The effects of venlafaxine on social activity level in depressed outpatients

• Published in: The journal of clinical psychiatry Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 157 - 163
• Main Authors: LENDERKING, W. R, TENNEN, H, NACKLEY, J. F, HALE, M. S, TURNER, R. R, TESTA, M. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Memphis, TN Physicians Postgraduate Press 01-03-1999
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Ambulatory Care; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cyclohexanols - therapeutic use; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Placebos; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Quality of Life; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; Mood disorder; Human; Chemotherapy; Social behavior; Treatment; Psychotropic; Daily living; Antidepressant agent; Depression; Venlafaxine
• ISSN: 0160-6689; 1555-2101
• DOI: 10.4088/JCP.v60n0312

Although most depression treatment outcome scales focus on symptoms, depression also affects daily functioning, social activity, and quality of life. We examined the effects of venlafaxine on social activity, general life functioning, and depressive symptoms in 2 placebo-controlled clinical trials of venlafaxine.
Subjects were 600 outpatients with major depression (DSM-III-R criteria). Treatment outcomes were examined separately in each study, primarily because of differing lengths of follow-up.
Treatment with venlafaxine significantly improved activity level, general life functioning, and depressive symptoms. Treatment accounted for statistically significant changes in both activity level and general life functioning even after controlling for changes in depression.
We provide evidence that social activity is a behavioral domain distinct from depressive symptoms and that venlafaxine improves social activity level and general life functioning in addition to its positive effects on depressive symptoms in outpatients with major depression.