Le trouble du déficit de l’attention avec ou sans hyperactivité (TDAH) est de plus en plus reconnu chez l'adulte. Les psychostimulants représentent la première ligne de traitement, mais ceux-ci ne sont parfois pas tolérés, peuvent être contrindiqués ou ne pas être efficaces. Les médicaments non stimulants constituent une alternative mais ont été insuffisamment explorés. Cette thèse présente un essai clinique randomisé contrôlé de 30 sujets souffrant de TDAH qui ont reçu soit la duloxétine 60 mg par jour ou le placebo pendant une période de 6 semaines. Le Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) et le Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) ont été utilisés pour mesurer la sévérité des symptômes et l'amélioration clinique. Le Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) et le Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) ont été choisis pour vérifier l'impact sur la symptomatologie anxio-dépressive. Les résultats démontrent que les sujets ayant reçu la duloxétine avait un score au CGI-Severity (CGI-S) inférieur au groupe contrôle à 6 semaines de traitement et une amélioration plus importante au CGI-Improvement (CGI-I). Ce groupe démontre également des diminutions supérieures des scores à plusieurs sous-échelles du CAARS. Aucun effet n'a été observé sur le HARS et le HDRS. Le taux de retrait du bras duloxetine remet par contre en question la dose initiale choisie dans ce protocole. La duloxétine semble donc une option prometteuse dans le traitement du TDAH chez l'adulte et la réplication des données cliniques serait la prochaine étape pour confirmer ces résultats. / Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized in adults. Stimulants are first-line treatment options but can be ineffective, poorly tolerated or contraindicated in some patients. For these patients, non-stimulants can be an interesting option; however, this heterogeneous class has been insufficiently studied. This thesis presents the results of a pilot study. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, thirty adults with ADHD received either placebo or duloxetine 60 mg daily for 6 weeks. The Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) and the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) were chosen to assess symptom severity and clinical improvement. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were used to measure the effect on anxiety and depressive symptoms. In summary, the duloxetine group showed a lower score on CGI-Severity at week 6, greater improvement on CGI-Improvement and greater decreases on multiple subscales of the CAARS. There was no treatment group effect on HDRS or HARS scores. Tolerability was an issue with participants in the duloxetine group and the dose titration schedule chosen in this study should be revised. This is the first clinical trial of duloxetine in adults with ADHD. This medication seams to improve symptoms in this condition but further studies are required to replicate these findings in larger samples of ADHD adults.

Atualmente, a quantidade de pacientes que são diagnosticados com alguma forma de depressão, entre elas, o transtorno depressivo maior, aumenta consideravelmente, quer seja em razão de diagnósticos mais precisos ou pela própria epidemiologia da doença. Acresça-se o fato de que muitos pacientes, apesar da quantidade de tipos de antidepressivos atualmente disponíveis para a terapêutica, são refratários ao tratamento prescrito, em razão dos efeitos adversos apresentados ou ainda em razão de simplesmente não se observar melhora com a prescrição. Em razão disso, novos tratamentos farmacológicos são disponibilizados. Para auxiliar na máxima eficácia em sua utilização, esse trabalho propôs o desenvolvimento de metodologia analítica para a determinação simultânea de antidepressivos tricíclicos e não tricíclicos, a saber: moclobemida, venlafaxina, citalopram, agomelatina, duloxetina, amitriptilina e sertralina em plasma humano por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC), para posteriormente ser aplicada na monitorização de pacientes depressivos. O método consistiu na extração líquido-líquido com recuperação entre 73% a 86%, exceto para a moclobemida (55%). A separação foi obtida usando uma coluna em fase reversa LiChrospher® 60 RP-select B em LichroCART 250mm x 4mm, 5 ?m de diâmetro interno, Merck sob condições isocráticas com detecção em UV em 230 nm, com fase móvel composta por 35% de uma mistura de acetonitrila/metanol 55/5 v/v e 65% de tampão acetato 0,25M pH 4,4. As curvas padrão foram lineares em uma faixa de trabalho de 2,5-1000 ng/mL para moclobemida, 5-2000 ng/mL para venlafaxina, citalopram, agomelatina, duloxetina e amitriptilina, 10-2000 ng/mL para sertralina. A precisão intra e interensaios foi efetuada em 3 concentrações (50, 200 e 500 ng/mL). Os coeficientes de variação para a precisão intraensaio foram menores que 8,8% para todos os compostos e os coeficientes de variação para a precisão interensaios foram menores que 8,6%. Os limites de quantificação foram de 2,5 ng/mL para a moclobemida, 5 ng/mL para venlafaxina, citalopram, duloxetina, agomelatina, amitriptilina e 10 ng/mL para sertralina com a etidocaína como padrão interno. Não se observou qualquer interferência das drogas normalmente associadas com antidepressivos. O método desenvolvido foi aplicado na monitorização de 79 pacientes em tratamento prolongado com amitriptilina, sertralina e venlafaxina. Paralelamente, foram avaliadas as concentrações plasmáticas de pacientes voluntários sadios submetidos a tratamento em dose única com agomelatina. A monitorização terapêutica se faz necessária para monitorar adesão ao tratamento já que a depressão está entre as principais causas mundiais de morbidade por incapacitação social e estimativa de prevalência crescente até 2030; caracterizando-se como um dos maiores e mais onerosos problemas de saúde pública. / Currently, the number of patients who are diagnosed with some form of depression, among them, major depressive disorder, increases considerably, either because of more accurate diagnosis or by the epidemiology of the disease. One should add the fact that many patients, despite the amount of types of antidepressants currently available for therapy are refractory to the treatment prescribed, because of the adverse effects appear, or their toxic effects, or by simply not observed improvement then the prescription. Therefore, new pharmacological treatments are available. To assist in maximum effectiveness in its use, this paper presents a methodology on HPLC for simultaneous determination of seven antidepressants, tricyclic and non-tricyclic, moclobemide, venlafaxine, citalopram, agomelatine, duloxetine, amitriptyline and sertraline in human plasma, later to be applied in monitoring depressed patients. The simple and accurate method of sample preparation consists of the liquid-liquid extraction with recovery between 73% to 86% (except for moclobemide, 55%). Separation was achieved using a reverse phase column Lichrospher® 60 RP-select B LiChroCART 4mm x 250mm, 5?m internal diameter, Merck, under isocratic conditions, with UV detection at 230nm, with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of 35% acetonitrile:methanol 55/5 (v/v) and 65% 0.25M acetate buffer, pH 4.4. The standard curves were linear in the working range of 2,5-1000 ng/mL for moclobemide, 5-2000 ng/mL to venlafaxine, citalopram, agomelatine, duloxetine and amitriptyline and 10-2000ng/mL to sertraline. The intra and interassay precisions were performed at three concentrations (50, 200 and 500 ng/mL). The coefficients of variation for intra-assay precision were less than 8.6% for all compounds and the coefficients of variation for interassay precision were lower than 8.5%. The limits of quantification were 2.5 ng/mL for moclobemide, 5 ng/mL for venlafaxine, citalopram, duloxetine, agomelatine, amitriptyline and 10 ng/mL for sertraline. No interference of drugs normally associated with antidepressants was observed. The developed method was applied to the monitoring of 79 patients receiving prolonged treatment with amitriptyline, sertraline and venlafaxine. And, the plasma concentrations of healthy volunteer patients undergoing single dose agomelatine were evaluated. Therapeutic drug monitoring, is to ensure maximum clinical efficacy coupled with minimal adverse effects in patients undergoing long-term therapy is needed and to monitor adherence to treatment since depression is among the major causes of morbidity and social disability increasing prevalence estimate of 2030; characterized as one of the largest and most costly public health problems

Introdução: a analgesia multimodal é amplamente usada para o controle da dor perioperatória em um esforço para reduzir o uso de opioides. A duloxetina é um inibidor seletivo da recaptação da serotonina e noradrenalina com eficácia para estados de dor crônica. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia de duas doses orais de 60 mg de duloxetina em termos de consumo de fentanil durante o período pós-operatório em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia eletiva de artrodese de coluna lombar. Método: este estudo foi um ensaio clínico prospectivo, duplo encoberto, aleatório e controlado com placebo. Os pacientes receberam 60 mg de duloxetina ou placebo idêntico uma hora antes da cirurgia e 24 horas depois. Os sujeitos do estudo foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo C (controle) de indivíduos que receberam o placebo; e grupo D (duloxetina) de indivíduos que receberam 60 mg de duloxetina. O consumo total de fentanil administrado pelo próprio paciente em 24 e 48 horas após a cirurgia foi mensurado. Os desfechos secundários foram os escores de dor e a presença ou ausência de efeitos adversos, tais como cefaleia, náuseas, vômitos, prurido, tonturas e sonolência. Resultados: as características demográficas não diferiram entre os grupos. Houve uma diferença significativa no consumo de fentanil nas primeiras 24 horas entre os grupos C e D (diferença média, 223,11 ± 39,32 ?g; p < 0,001). O consumo de fentanil também diferiu entre os grupos C e D após 48 horas (diferença média, 179,35 ± 32,55 ug; p < 0,00). Os escores de dor em mais de 48 horas não diferiram significativamente entre os grupos. A incidência de efeitos colaterais foi semelhante nos dois grupos. Conclusão: a duloxetina foi associada à redução do consumo de fentanil no pós-operatório de cirurgias sobre a coluna lombar, portanto, sendo eficaz como adjuvante para a analgesia pós-operatória e redução do consumo de opioides / Background: Multimodal analgesia is widely advocated for the control of perioperative pain in an effort to reduce the use of opioids. Duloxetine is a selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor with efficacy for chronic pain states. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two oral doses of 60 mg duloxetine in terms of fentanyl submitted to elective lumbar spine arthrodesis surgery. Method: This study was prospective, double blind, randomized, and placebo controlled clinical trial. Patients received duloxetine 60 mg or identical placebo one hour before surgery and 24 hours later. The study subjects were divided into two groups: group C (control) of subjects who received placebo; and group D (duloxetine) from subjects received 60 mg. The total fentanyl consumption by the patient himself at 24 and 48 hours after surgery was measured. Secondary outcomes were pain scores and the presence or absence of adverse effects such as headache, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, dizziness and drowsiness. Results: Demographic characteristics did not differ between groups. There was a significant difference in fentanyl consumption in the first 24 hours between groups C and D (mean difference, 223.11 ± 39.32 ?g; p < 0.001). Fentanyl consumption also differed between groups C and D after 48 hours (mean difference, 179.35 ± 32.55 ?g; p < 0.00). Pain scores in more than 48 hours did not differ significantly between groups. The incidence of side effects was similar in both groups. Conclusion: Duloxetine was associated with reduction of fentanyl consumption in the postoperative period of surgeries on the lumbar spine, therefore, it was effective as adjuvant for postoperative analgesia and reduction of opioid consumption

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with painful physical symptoms (PPS). These post hoc analyses of previous trial data assessed PPS and their response to duloxetine treatment in GAD patients. Studies 1 and 2 (n = 840) were 9- to 10-week efficacy trials; study 3 (n = 887) was a relapse prevention trial comprising a 26-week open-label treatment phase and a 26-week double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment continuation phase. Mean baseline visual analog scale scores (VAS, 0–100; n = 1727) ranged from 26 to 37 for overall pain, headache, back pain, shoulder pain, interference with daily activities, and time in pain while awake. In studies 1 and 2, improvement on all VAS scores was greater in duloxetine-treated than in placebo-treated patients (p ≤ 0.01). In study 3, pain symptoms worsened in responders switched to placebo compared with those maintained on duloxetine (p ≤ 0.02). In conclusion, duloxetine was efficacious in the short- and long-term treatment of PPS, which are common in GAD patients.

The objective was to examine duloxetine 60–120mg/day treatment for relapse prevention in adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Adult patients (N=887; mean age=43.3 years; 61.0% female) with DSM-IV-TR-defined GAD diagnosis were treated with duloxetine for 26 weeks. Patients who completed open-label phase and were treatment responders (≥50% reduction in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale total score to ≤11 and “much”/“very much improved” ratings for the last 2 visits of open-label phase) were randomly assigned to receive duloxetine or placebo for a 26-week double-blind continuation phase. Relapse was defined as ≥2-point increase in illness severity ratings or by discontinuation due to lack of efficacy. During the double-blind phase, placebo-treated patients (N=201) relapsed more frequently (41.8%) than duloxetine-treated patients (13.7%, N=204, P≤0.001) and worsened on each outcome measure (P≤0.001, all comparisons). Duloxetine 60–120 mg/day treatment was efficacious and reduced risk of relapse in patients with GAD.

Le trouble du déficit de l’attention avec ou sans hyperactivité (TDAH) est de plus en plus reconnu chez l'adulte. Les psychostimulants représentent la première ligne de traitement, mais ceux-ci ne sont parfois pas tolérés, peuvent être contrindiqués ou ne pas être efficaces. Les médicaments non stimulants constituent une alternative mais ont été insuffisamment explorés. Cette thèse présente un essai clinique randomisé contrôlé de 30 sujets souffrant de TDAH qui ont reçu soit la duloxétine 60 mg par jour ou le placebo pendant une période de 6 semaines. Le Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) et le Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) ont été utilisés pour mesurer la sévérité des symptômes et l'amélioration clinique. Le Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) et le Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) ont été choisis pour vérifier l'impact sur la symptomatologie anxio-dépressive. Les résultats démontrent que les sujets ayant reçu la duloxétine avait un score au CGI-Severity (CGI-S) inférieur au groupe contrôle à 6 semaines de traitement et une amélioration plus importante au CGI-Improvement (CGI-I). Ce groupe démontre également des diminutions supérieures des scores à plusieurs sous-échelles du CAARS. Aucun effet n'a été observé sur le HARS et le HDRS. Le taux de retrait du bras duloxetine remet par contre en question la dose initiale choisie dans ce protocole. La duloxétine semble donc une option prometteuse dans le traitement du TDAH chez l'adulte et la réplication des données cliniques serait la prochaine étape pour confirmer ces résultats. / Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized in adults. Stimulants are first-line treatment options but can be ineffective, poorly tolerated or contraindicated in some patients. For these patients, non-stimulants can be an interesting option; however, this heterogeneous class has been insufficiently studied. This thesis presents the results of a pilot study. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, thirty adults with ADHD received either placebo or duloxetine 60 mg daily for 6 weeks. The Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) and the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) were chosen to assess symptom severity and clinical improvement. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were used to measure the effect on anxiety and depressive symptoms. In summary, the duloxetine group showed a lower score on CGI-Severity at week 6, greater improvement on CGI-Improvement and greater decreases on multiple subscales of the CAARS. There was no treatment group effect on HDRS or HARS scores. Tolerability was an issue with participants in the duloxetine group and the dose titration schedule chosen in this study should be revised. This is the first clinical trial of duloxetine in adults with ADHD. This medication seams to improve symptoms in this condition but further studies are required to replicate these findings in larger samples of ADHD adults.

Introdução: a analgesia multimodal é amplamente usada para o controle da dor perioperatória em um esforço para reduzir o uso de opioides. A duloxetina é um inibidor seletivo da recaptação da serotonina e noradrenalina com eficácia para estados de dor crônica. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia de duas doses orais de 60 mg de duloxetina em termos de consumo de fentanil durante o período pós-operatório em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia eletiva de artrodese de coluna lombar. Método: este estudo foi um ensaio clínico prospectivo, duplo encoberto, aleatório e controlado com placebo. Os pacientes receberam 60 mg de duloxetina ou placebo idêntico uma hora antes da cirurgia e 24 horas depois. Os sujeitos do estudo foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo C (controle) de indivíduos que receberam o placebo; e grupo D (duloxetina) de indivíduos que receberam 60 mg de duloxetina. O consumo total de fentanil administrado pelo próprio paciente em 24 e 48 horas após a cirurgia foi mensurado. Os desfechos secundários foram os escores de dor e a presença ou ausência de efeitos adversos, tais como cefaleia, náuseas, vômitos, prurido, tonturas e sonolência. Resultados: as características demográficas não diferiram entre os grupos. Houve uma diferença significativa no consumo de fentanil nas primeiras 24 horas entre os grupos C e D (diferença média, 223,11 ± 39,32 ?g; p < 0,001). O consumo de fentanil também diferiu entre os grupos C e D após 48 horas (diferença média, 179,35 ± 32,55 ug; p < 0,00). Os escores de dor em mais de 48 horas não diferiram significativamente entre os grupos. A incidência de efeitos colaterais foi semelhante nos dois grupos. Conclusão: a duloxetina foi associada à redução do consumo de fentanil no pós-operatório de cirurgias sobre a coluna lombar, portanto, sendo eficaz como adjuvante para a analgesia pós-operatória e redução do consumo de opioides / Background: Multimodal analgesia is widely advocated for the control of perioperative pain in an effort to reduce the use of opioids. Duloxetine is a selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor with efficacy for chronic pain states. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two oral doses of 60 mg duloxetine in terms of fentanyl submitted to elective lumbar spine arthrodesis surgery. Method: This study was prospective, double blind, randomized, and placebo controlled clinical trial. Patients received duloxetine 60 mg or identical placebo one hour before surgery and 24 hours later. The study subjects were divided into two groups: group C (control) of subjects who received placebo; and group D (duloxetine) from subjects received 60 mg. The total fentanyl consumption by the patient himself at 24 and 48 hours after surgery was measured. Secondary outcomes were pain scores and the presence or absence of adverse effects such as headache, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, dizziness and drowsiness. Results: Demographic characteristics did not differ between groups. There was a significant difference in fentanyl consumption in the first 24 hours between groups C and D (mean difference, 223.11 ± 39.32 ?g; p < 0.001). Fentanyl consumption also differed between groups C and D after 48 hours (mean difference, 179.35 ± 32.55 ?g; p < 0.00). Pain scores in more than 48 hours did not differ significantly between groups. The incidence of side effects was similar in both groups. Conclusion: Duloxetine was associated with reduction of fentanyl consumption in the postoperative period of surgeries on the lumbar spine, therefore, it was effective as adjuvant for postoperative analgesia and reduction of opioid consumption

Atualmente, a quantidade de pacientes que são diagnosticados com alguma forma de depressão, entre elas, o transtorno depressivo maior, aumenta consideravelmente, quer seja em razão de diagnósticos mais precisos ou pela própria epidemiologia da doença. Acresça-se o fato de que muitos pacientes, apesar da quantidade de tipos de antidepressivos atualmente disponíveis para a terapêutica, são refratários ao tratamento prescrito, em razão dos efeitos adversos apresentados ou ainda em razão de simplesmente não se observar melhora com a prescrição. Em razão disso, novos tratamentos farmacológicos são disponibilizados. Para auxiliar na máxima eficácia em sua utilização, esse trabalho propôs o desenvolvimento de metodologia analítica para a determinação simultânea de antidepressivos tricíclicos e não tricíclicos, a saber: moclobemida, venlafaxina, citalopram, agomelatina, duloxetina, amitriptilina e sertralina em plasma humano por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC), para posteriormente ser aplicada na monitorização de pacientes depressivos. O método consistiu na extração líquido-líquido com recuperação entre 73% a 86%, exceto para a moclobemida (55%). A separação foi obtida usando uma coluna em fase reversa LiChrospher® 60 RP-select B em LichroCART 250mm x 4mm, 5 ?m de diâmetro interno, Merck sob condições isocráticas com detecção em UV em 230 nm, com fase móvel composta por 35% de uma mistura de acetonitrila/metanol 55/5 v/v e 65% de tampão acetato 0,25M pH 4,4. As curvas padrão foram lineares em uma faixa de trabalho de 2,5-1000 ng/mL para moclobemida, 5-2000 ng/mL para venlafaxina, citalopram, agomelatina, duloxetina e amitriptilina, 10-2000 ng/mL para sertralina. A precisão intra e interensaios foi efetuada em 3 concentrações (50, 200 e 500 ng/mL). Os coeficientes de variação para a precisão intraensaio foram menores que 8,8% para todos os compostos e os coeficientes de variação para a precisão interensaios foram menores que 8,6%. Os limites de quantificação foram de 2,5 ng/mL para a moclobemida, 5 ng/mL para venlafaxina, citalopram, duloxetina, agomelatina, amitriptilina e 10 ng/mL para sertralina com a etidocaína como padrão interno. Não se observou qualquer interferência das drogas normalmente associadas com antidepressivos. O método desenvolvido foi aplicado na monitorização de 79 pacientes em tratamento prolongado com amitriptilina, sertralina e venlafaxina. Paralelamente, foram avaliadas as concentrações plasmáticas de pacientes voluntários sadios submetidos a tratamento em dose única com agomelatina. A monitorização terapêutica se faz necessária para monitorar adesão ao tratamento já que a depressão está entre as principais causas mundiais de morbidade por incapacitação social e estimativa de prevalência crescente até 2030; caracterizando-se como um dos maiores e mais onerosos problemas de saúde pública. / Currently, the number of patients who are diagnosed with some form of depression, among them, major depressive disorder, increases considerably, either because of more accurate diagnosis or by the epidemiology of the disease. One should add the fact that many patients, despite the amount of types of antidepressants currently available for therapy are refractory to the treatment prescribed, because of the adverse effects appear, or their toxic effects, or by simply not observed improvement then the prescription. Therefore, new pharmacological treatments are available. To assist in maximum effectiveness in its use, this paper presents a methodology on HPLC for simultaneous determination of seven antidepressants, tricyclic and non-tricyclic, moclobemide, venlafaxine, citalopram, agomelatine, duloxetine, amitriptyline and sertraline in human plasma, later to be applied in monitoring depressed patients. The simple and accurate method of sample preparation consists of the liquid-liquid extraction with recovery between 73% to 86% (except for moclobemide, 55%). Separation was achieved using a reverse phase column Lichrospher® 60 RP-select B LiChroCART 4mm x 250mm, 5?m internal diameter, Merck, under isocratic conditions, with UV detection at 230nm, with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of 35% acetonitrile:methanol 55/5 (v/v) and 65% 0.25M acetate buffer, pH 4.4. The standard curves were linear in the working range of 2,5-1000 ng/mL for moclobemide, 5-2000 ng/mL to venlafaxine, citalopram, agomelatine, duloxetine and amitriptyline and 10-2000ng/mL to sertraline. The intra and interassay precisions were performed at three concentrations (50, 200 and 500 ng/mL). The coefficients of variation for intra-assay precision were less than 8.6% for all compounds and the coefficients of variation for interassay precision were lower than 8.5%. The limits of quantification were 2.5 ng/mL for moclobemide, 5 ng/mL for venlafaxine, citalopram, duloxetine, agomelatine, amitriptyline and 10 ng/mL for sertraline. No interference of drugs normally associated with antidepressants was observed. The developed method was applied to the monitoring of 79 patients receiving prolonged treatment with amitriptyline, sertraline and venlafaxine. And, the plasma concentrations of healthy volunteer patients undergoing single dose agomelatine were evaluated. Therapeutic drug monitoring, is to ensure maximum clinical efficacy coupled with minimal adverse effects in patients undergoing long-term therapy is needed and to monitor adherence to treatment since depression is among the major causes of morbidity and social disability increasing prevalence estimate of 2030; characterized as one of the largest and most costly public health problems

Comparing the efficacy of different treatments in psychiatry is difficult for many reasons, even when they are investigated in `head-to-head' studies. A consensus meeting was, therefore, held to produce best practice guidelines for such studies. This article presents the conclusions of this consensus and illustrates it using published data in the field of antidepressant treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with painful physical symptoms (PPS). These post hoc analyses of previous trial data assessed PPS and their response to duloxetine treatment in GAD patients. Studies 1 and 2 (n = 840) were 9- to 10-week efficacy trials; study 3 (n = 887) was a relapse prevention trial comprising a 26-week open-label treatment phase and a 26-week double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment continuation phase. Mean baseline visual analog scale scores (VAS, 0–100; n = 1727) ranged from 26 to 37 for overall pain, headache, back pain, shoulder pain, interference with daily activities, and time in pain while awake. In studies 1 and 2, improvement on all VAS scores was greater in duloxetine-treated than in placebo-treated patients (p ≤ 0.01). In study 3, pain symptoms worsened in responders switched to placebo compared with those maintained on duloxetine (p ≤ 0.02). In conclusion, duloxetine was efficacious in the short- and long-term treatment of PPS, which are common in GAD patients.