A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial of Vilazodone in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbid Depression

Objective: To determine the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of vilazodone in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with comorbid mild-to-moderate depression.

Methods: A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in adult outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD with comorbid depression between February 2013 and September 2015. Participants were randomly assigned to receive vilazodone 40 mg/d or placebo, and outcome measures were obtained at scheduled visits. Primary outcome measures included change in PTSD symptoms from baseline to end of study as indexed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and PTSD Symptom Scale-Self-Report (PSS-SR). Secondary outcome measures of anxiety, depression, and impairment were obtained, as well as biomarker assessment at baseline and end of study.

Results: A total of 59 patients were randomly assigned to receive vilazodone (n = 29) or placebo (n = 30). Of those who were randomized, there were 25 completers in the vilazodone group and 22 completers in the placebo group. No significant differences were observed between the groups on any of the primary or secondary outcome measures. Vilazodone was generally well tolerated with few differences in the rate of adverse events between groups.

Conclusions: Treatment with vilazodone 40 mg/d did not improve symptoms of PTSD and comorbid depression. Further investigation of the biological mechanisms underlying PTSD may lead to identification of improved therapeutic targets.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01715519