Duloxetine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

Background. Existing therapies for depression frequently fail to provide full remission. This report evaluates the efficacy and safety of duloxetine, a dual reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine, in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Method. Efficacy of duloxetine was evaluated in six double-blind, placebo- and/or active-comparator-controlled clinical trials. A study of duloxetine in patients with stress urinary incontinence was also included in the safety assessments. The primary efficacy measure was total score on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17). Secondary measures included estimated probabilities of response and remission, and changes in the Clinical…