Study Evaluating Effexor® (Venlafaxine) in Achieving Response and Maintaining Remission

A Study Of The Utility Of Effexor® (Venlafaxine) In Achieving Response And Maintaining Remission Among Taiwanese Patients With Depression

This is a study to determine the utility of Effexor® (venlafaxine) in achieving response, including time to response, maintaining remission, and time to remission as measured by the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and to determine the utility of Effexor® (venlafxine) on the various cluster of symptom scales in the 17-item HAM-D.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

• Patients meeting criteria for a diagnosis of major depression, single or recurrent episode as described by the DSM-IV manual (appendix 1).
• A HAM-D 17 total score of at least 16 at baseline (DSM-IV manual, appendix 2).
• Patients above 18 years of age who meet the eligibility requirements.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

• Patients taking MAOI's within 2 weeks prior to the survey.
• Patients known to be suffering from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
• Patients who are treatment-resistant, i.e., in the past 3 years have failed (a) three previous adequate trials of greater than or equal to 2 classes of antidepressant medication, or (b) electroconvulsive therapy.
• Drug or alcohol dependence or abuse in the past 6 months per DSM IV criteria.