Study Evaluating Effexor® (Venlafaxine) in Achieving Response and Maintaining Remission
Study Evaluating Effexor® (Venlafaxine) in Achieving Response and Maintaining Remission
This is a study to determine the utility of Effexor® (venlafaxine) in achieving response,
 including time to response, maintaining remission, and time to remission as measured by the
 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and to determine the utility of Effexor®
 (venlafxine) on the various cluster of symptom scales in the 17-item HAM-D.
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

 -  Patients meeting criteria for a diagnosis of major depression, single or recurrent
 episode as described by the DSM-IV manual (appendix 1).

 -  A HAM-D 17 total score of at least 16 at baseline (DSM-IV manual, appendix 2).

 -  Patients above 18 years of age who meet the eligibility requirements.

 EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

 -  Patients taking MAOI's within 2 weeks prior to the survey.

 -  Patients known to be suffering from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

 -  Patients who are treatment-resistant, i.e., in the past 3 years have failed (a) three
 previous adequate trials of greater than or equal to 2 classes of antidepressant
 medication, or (b) electroconvulsive therapy.

 -  Drug or alcohol dependence or abuse in the past 6 months per DSM IV criteria.