A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of venlafaxine-extended release for co-occurring cannabis dependence and depressive disorders.

ABSTRACT: To evaluate whether venlafaxine-extended release (VEN-XR) is an effective treatment for cannabis dependence with concurrent depressive disorders.This was a randomized, 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of out-patients (n?=?103) with DSM-IV cannabis dependence and major depressive disorder or dysthymia. Participants received up to 375?mg VEN-XR on a fixed-flexible schedule or placebo. All patients received weekly individual cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy that primarily targeted marijuana use.The trial was conducted at two university research centers in the United States.One hundred and three cannabis-dependent adults participated in the trial.The primary outcome measures were (i) abstinence from marijuana defined as at least two consecutive urine-confirmed abstinent weeks and (ii) improvement in depressive symptoms based on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.The proportion of patients achieving a clinically significant mood improvement (50% decrease in Hamilton Depression score from baseline) was high and did not differ between groups receiving VEN-XR (63%) and placebo (69%) (?1 (2) ?=?0.48, P?=?0.49). The proportion of patients achieving abstinence was low overall, but was significantly worse on VEN-XR (11.8%) compared to placebo (36.5%) (?1 (2) ?=?7.46, P?

SUBMITTER: Levin FR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3636166 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature