Aripiprazole augmentation to antidepressant therapy in Japanese patients with major depressive disorder: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (ADMIRE study)

AbstractObjective andomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a fixed dose (3 mg/day) and flexible dose (3–15 mg/day) schedule of aripiprazole as augmentation therapy in Japanese patients with inadequate response to antidepressant therapy (ADT). an 8-week prospective treatment phase, patients experiencing a major depressive episode received cliniciansʹ choice of ADT. Subjects with inadequate response to ADT were randomized to receive adjunctive treatment with placebo (n=195), fixed dose aripiprazole (n=197) or flexible dose aripiprazole (n=194) for 6 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was mean change in the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score from the end of prospective treatment (baseline) to the end of randomized treatment. s han 90% of patients in all treatment groups completed the 6-week double-blind treatment phase. Mean MADRS total score was improved to a significantly greater extent with fixed dose aripiprazole and flexible dose aripiprazole (−10.5 and −9.6, respectively) than with placebo (−7.4). Aripiprazole was well tolerated. The incidence of akathisia observed in the flexible dose group may relate to a higher prevalence of the CYP2D6*10 allele in Asian populations. tions eks of adjunctive treatment is insufficient to draw conclusions about the long-term benefits of aripiprazole. Exclusion of patients with established medical comorbidities does not reflect real-world practice. sions razole augmentation at a fixed or flexible dose was superior to ADT alone and was reasonably well tolerated in Japanese patients with inadequate response to ADT. al trials registration alTrials.gov identifier NCT00876343.