1
|
Ostuzzi G, Gastaldon C, Tettamanti M, Cartabia M, Monti I, Aguglia A, Aguglia E, Bartoli F, Callegari C, Canozzi A, Carbone EA, Carrà G, Caruso R, Cavallotti S, Chiappini S, Colasante F, Compri B, D'Agostino A, De Fazio P, de Filippis R, Gari M, Ielmini M, Ingrosso G, Mammarella S, Martinotti G, Rodolico A, Roncone R, Sterzi E, Tarsitani L, Tiberto E, Todini L, Amaddeo F, D'Avanzo B, Barbato A, Barbui C. Tolerability of vortioxetine compared to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in older adults with major depressive disorder (VESPA): a randomised, assessor-blinded and statistician-blinded, multicentre, superiority trial. EClinicalMedicine 2024; 69:102491. [PMID: 38384338 PMCID: PMC10879669 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is prevalent and disabling among older adults. Standing on its tolerability profile, vortioxetine might be a promising alternative to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in such a vulnerable population. Methods We conducted a randomised, assessor- and statistician-blinded, superiority trial including older adults with MDD. The study was conducted between 02/02/2019 and 02/22/2023 in 11 Italian Psychiatric Services. Participants were randomised to vortioxetine or one of the SSRIs, selected according to common practice. Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events after six months was the primary outcome, for which we aimed to detect a 12% difference in favour of vortioxetine. The study was registered in the online repository clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03779789). Findings The intention-to-treat population included 179 individuals randomised to vortioxetine and 178 to SSRIs. Mean age was 73.7 years (standard deviation 6.1), and 264 participants (69%) were female. Of those on vortioxetine, 78 (44%) discontinued the treatment due to adverse events at six months, compared to 59 (33%) of those on SSRIs (odds ratio 1.56; 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.39). Adjusted and per-protocol analyses confirmed point estimates in favour of SSRIs, but without a significant difference. With the exception of the unadjusted survival analysis showing SSRIs to outperform vortioxetine, secondary outcomes provided results consistent with a lack of substantial safety and tolerability differences between the two arms. Overall, no significant differences emerged in terms of response rates, depressive symptoms and quality of life, while SSRIs outperformed vortioxetine in terms of cognitive performance. Interpretation As opposed to what was previously hypothesised, vortioxetine did not show a better tolerability profile compared to SSRIs in older adults with MDD in this study. Additionally, hypothetical advantages of vortioxetine on depression-related cognitive symptoms might be questioned. The study's statistical power and highly pragmatic design allow for generalisability to real-world practice. Funding The study was funded by the Italian Medicines Agency within the "2016 Call for Independent Drug Research".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Ostuzzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Gastaldon
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mauro Tettamanti
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimo Cartabia
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Igor Monti
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Aguglia
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Eugenio Aguglia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Francesco Bartoli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Camilla Callegari
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Psychiatry, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Andrea Canozzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elvira Anna Carbone
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- Outpatient Clinic for Clinical Research and Treatment of Eating Disorders, University Hospital Renato Dulbecco, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Carrà
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Rosangela Caruso
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- University Hospital Psychiatry Unit, Integrated Department of Mental Health and Addictive Behavior, University S. Anna Hospital and Health Trust, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Simone Cavallotti
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Chiappini
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University “G. D'Annunzio”, Chieti, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Colasante
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Santa Chiara Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Beatrice Compri
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Armando D'Agostino
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Pasquale De Fazio
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- Outpatient Clinic for Clinical Research and Treatment of Eating Disorders, University Hospital Renato Dulbecco, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Renato de Filippis
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- Outpatient Clinic for Clinical Research and Treatment of Eating Disorders, University Hospital Renato Dulbecco, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Matteo Gari
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marta Ielmini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Psychiatry, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ingrosso
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Mammarella
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University “G. D'Annunzio”, Chieti, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rodolico
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Rita Roncone
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Enrico Sterzi
- Pharmacy Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Tarsitani
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Tiberto
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- University Hospital Psychiatry Unit, Integrated Department of Mental Health and Addictive Behavior, University S. Anna Hospital and Health Trust, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Liliana Todini
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Amaddeo
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Barbara D'Avanzo
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Angelo Barbato
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Corrado Barbui
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Caruso R, Sabato S, Nanni MG, Hales S, Rodin G, Malfitano C, Tiberto E, De Padova S, Bertelli T, Belvederi Murri M, Zerbinati L, Grassi L. Application of Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) in Advanced Cancer Patients: An Italian Pilot Study. Psychother Psychosom 2021; 89:402-404. [PMID: 32191940 DOI: 10.1159/000505875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosangela Caruso
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvana Sabato
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Nanni
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sara Hales
- University Hospital Psychiatry Unit, Integrated Department of Mental Health and Addictive Disorders, Health Trust and University S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gary Rodin
- University Hospital Psychiatry Unit, Integrated Department of Mental Health and Addictive Disorders, Health Trust and University S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carmine Malfitano
- University Hospital Psychiatry Unit, Integrated Department of Mental Health and Addictive Disorders, Health Trust and University S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elisa Tiberto
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Silvia De Padova
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Tatiana Bertelli
- Psycho-Oncology Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Martino Belvederi Murri
- Psycho-Oncology Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Luigi Zerbinati
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Luigi Grassi
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy,
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Meggiolaro E, De Padova S, Ruffilli F, Bertelli T, Bragagni M, Prati S, Pisotti L, Massa I, Foca F, Tamberi S, De Giorgi U, Zerbinati L, Tiberto E, Grassi L. From Distress Screening to Uptake: An Italian Multicenter Study of Cancer Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13153761. [PMID: 34359662 PMCID: PMC8345103 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Little consideration is given to the referral and uptake of available supportive services after distress screening. However, identifying the reasons for accepting or refusing help is mandatory for implementing a screening policy. The present study explored the practical usefulness of and potential barriers to the application of distress management. METHODS 406 cancer patients were consecutively selected and asked to complete the Distress Thermometer (DT) and Problem Check List (PL). All patients with a DT score ≥6 were invited for a post-DT telephone interview with a trained psychologist. RESULTS The 112 patients who refused to take part were more often older, retired, at a more advanced stage of illness, and with no previous experience of psychological intervention with respect to those who accepted. Of the 78 patients with a score ≥6 who were referred to the Psycho-Oncology Service, 65.4% accepted the telephone interview. Twenty-two patients rejected the initial invitation immediately for various reasons including logistic difficulties, physical problems, and feeling embarrassed about opening up to a psychologist. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirms that screening per sé is insufficient to deal with the problem of distress and that more emphasis should be placed on implementing referral and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Meggiolaro
- Psycho-Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (S.D.P.); (F.R.); (T.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0543-739260; Fax: +39-0543-739151
| | - Silvia De Padova
- Psycho-Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (S.D.P.); (F.R.); (T.B.)
| | - Federica Ruffilli
- Psycho-Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (S.D.P.); (F.R.); (T.B.)
| | - Tatiana Bertelli
- Psycho-Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (S.D.P.); (F.R.); (T.B.)
| | - Marina Bragagni
- Nursing and Technical Administration, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (M.B.); (S.P.); (L.P.)
| | - Sabrina Prati
- Nursing and Technical Administration, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (M.B.); (S.P.); (L.P.)
| | - Lidia Pisotti
- Nursing and Technical Administration, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (M.B.); (S.P.); (L.P.)
| | - Ilaria Massa
- Healthcare Administration, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy;
| | - Flavia Foca
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy;
| | - Stefano Tamberi
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale degli Infermi, 48018 Faenza, Italy;
| | - Ugo De Giorgi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy;
| | - Luigi Zerbinati
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (L.Z.); (E.T.); (L.G.)
| | - Elisa Tiberto
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (L.Z.); (E.T.); (L.G.)
| | - Luigi Grassi
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (L.Z.); (E.T.); (L.G.)
| |
Collapse
|