Study Evaluating Venlafaxine Extended-Release in Depressed and Anxious Patients

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Pilot Study To Evaluate The Efficacy And Safety Of Venlafaxine Extended-Release In Depressed And Anxious Patients With Multiple, Unexplained Somatic Symptoms

To examine the efficacy and safety of venlafaxine XR in the treatment of physical and emotional symptoms in patients with an operationally-defined diagnosis of multisomatoform disorder (MSD).

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy and safety of venlafaxine XR in the treatment of physical and emotional symptoms in patients with an operationally-defined diagnosis of MSD. Primary efficacy will be evaluated using the PHQ-15 scale, and secondary efficacy will be evaluated using the HAM-D17, HAM-A, CGI, MQOL-PS, VAS and SF-36 evaluation scales. Assessment scales and questionnaires will be administered at specified clinical visits between screening and Week 12 (or discontinuation).

Inclusion Criteria:

· Subjects must be at least 18 years of age and meet DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and/ or social anxiety disorder, meet clinical criteria for MSD, have a total score of greater than or equal to 14 on the HAM-D17 or a total score of greater than or equal to 12 on the HAM-A at screening and no more than a 25% decrease in total HAM-D17 score or total HAM-A score from screening to randomization.

Exclusion Criteria:

• a history of an inability to tolerate or failure to respond to greater than or equal to 2 antidepressants of sufficient dose and duration of administration for the treatment of symptoms present in the current illness;
• a current or past history of mania, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder;
• history of seizure disorder other than childhood febrile seizure;
• presence of a serious or clinically unstable medical illness or psychiatric condition that would compromise the participation in the study;
• previous intolerance or hypersensitivity to venlafaxine or venlafaxine XR or nonresponse to a previous adequate trial of any of these drugs, or use of any nonpsychopharmacologic drug with psychotropic effects within 7 days of study randomization;
• Use of MAOI or fluoxetine within 30 days of screening; or
• Use of ECT within 3 months of screening.