A multicenter, 10-week study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 50 mg of desvenlafaxine succinate sustained-release formulation (DVS SR) versus placebo in the treatment of peri- and postmenopausal women with major depressive disorder

Inclusion Criteria:

• Peri- and postmenopausal women aged 40 to 70 years who are fluent in both written and spoken English.

• Postmenopausal status defined by 12 consecutive months of spontaneous amenorrhea; less than 12 consecutive months with at least 6 consecutive months of spontaneous amenorrhea and a pre-baseline follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level >40 mIU/mL; or 6 months postsurgical bilateral oophorectomy (with or without hysterectomy). Perimenopausal women defined by the presence of any of the following within 6 months before baseline:

  1. an absolute change of 7 days or more in menstrual cycle length within 6 months before baseline;
  2. a change in menstrual flow amount (2 or more flow categories, eg, from light or moderately light to moderately heavy or heavy);
  3. a change in duration (absolute change of 2 or more days); or
  4. periods of amenorrhea lasting at least 3 months.

• A primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) based on the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), single or recurrent episode, without psychotic features using the modified Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).

• A Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score >=25 at the screening and baseline (day -1) visits and no more than a 5-point improvement from screening to baseline.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Treatment with DVS SR (Pristiq®) at any time in the past and/or venlafaxine, ie, Effexor® or Effexor XR®, 1 year prior to baseline.
• Treatment-resistant; eg, in the past 3 years if any of the following treatments have failed: (a) 3 or more previous adequate trials of >=2 classes of antidepressant medication, (b) electroconvulsive therapy, or (c) 2 adequate trials of psychotherapy (eg, behavior therapy, behavior-marital therapy).
• History or current evidence of gastrointestinal disease known to interfere with the absorption or excretion of drugs or a history of surgery known to interfere with the absorption or excretion of drugs.
• Known presence of raised intraocular pressure or history of narrow-angle glaucoma.

Pfizer has the right to review disclosures, requesting a delay of less than 60 days. Investigator will postpone single center publications until after disclosure of pooled data (all sites), less than 12 months from study completion/termination at all participating sites. Investigator may not disclose previously undisclosed confidential information other than study results.