An open-label, flexible dose adaptive study evaluating the efficacy of vortioxetine in subjects with panic disorder.

Background: Despite the current treatments available for panic disorder (PD), as many as one-third of patients have persistent and treatment-resistant panic attacks. Vortioxetine is an approved medicine for major depressive disorder and has been shown to have anxiolytic properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its efficacy and safety in an adult population with a diagnosis of PD.

Methods: The study design was open label with flexible dose strategies (5, 10, or 20 mg) with a treatment period of 10 weeks. 27 male and female subjects aged between 18 and 60 years, who met DSM-IV criteria for PD with or without agoraphobia, or who had a Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) score > 8 at baseline were enrolled. Statistical significance was established by the Student's T test.

Results: A statistically significant decrease in the occurrence of panic attacks was measured with the PDSS with vortioxetine. In addition, a moderate improvement in the quality of life and no significant side effects were observed using the Quality-of-Life Scale and Monitoring of Side Effects Scale, respectively.

Conclusions: These results provide some support for the use of vortioxetine in the management of panic disorder. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID#: NCT02395510. Registered March 23, 2015, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02395510.