Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) have been postulated to afford benefits in alleviating anhedonia and amotivation. This post hoc pooled analysis evaluated the effect of venlafaxine XR, an SNRI, on these symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Data was pooled from five short-term randomized, placebo-controlled studies of venlafaxine XR for the treatment of MDD, comprising 1087 (venlafaxine XR, n = 585; placebo, n = 502) adult subjects. The change from baseline score in the MADRS anhedonia factor (based on items 1 [apparent sadness], 2 [reported sadness], 6 [concentration difficulties], 7 [lassitude], and 8 [inability to feel]) for anhedonia, and in motivational deficits (based on 3 items of HAM-D17: involvement in work and activities, psychomotor retardation, and energy level [ie, general somatic symptoms]) for amotivation, were measured through 8 weeks. Mixed model repeated measures (MMRMs) were used to analyze changes over time and ANCOVA to analyze the change from baseline at week 8 with LOCF employed to handle missing data.

At the end of 8 weeks, the change from baseline was significantly greater in patients on venlafaxine XR in both anhedonia (mean, 95% CI: −2.73 [−3.63, −1.82], p < 0.0001) and amotivation scores (mean, 95% CI: −0.78 [−1.04, −0.52], p < 0.0001) than those on placebo. For both measures, the between-group separation from baseline was statistically significant starting from week 2 onwards, and it increased over time.

This analysis demonstrates that venlafaxine XR is effective in improving symptoms of anhedonia and motivational deficits in patients with MDD.