Effect of augmentation with aripiprazole or augmentation with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation versus switching to the antidepressant venlafaxine extended release/duloxetine on cognition: A comparative effectiveness research trial for antidepressant incomplete and non-responders with treatment-resistant depression (ASCERTAIN-TRD).

Subjective cognitive impairment is a key symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD). Improvement of cognitive function in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is an important treatment outcome. This study compared the impact of augmenting antidepressants with aripiprazole or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) versus switching to venlafaxine (or duloxetine for those not eligible to receive venlafaxine) on cognition in TRD patients. In a pre-defined secondary analysis of a multi-site, open-label trial, patients with TRD were randomly assigned to aripiprazole augmentation, rTMS augmentation, or switching to venlafaxine XR/duloxetine in 1:1:1 ratio and they were treated for 8 weeks. Cognition was assessed using the Cognitive and Physical Functioning Questionnaire (CPFQ). A mixed-effects model with repeated measures was conducted. Among the 258 randomized subjects with at least one post-baseline CPFQ assessment (aripiprazole n = 91; rTMS = 70;venlfaxine XR/duloxetine = 97), neither aripiprazole nor rTMS demonstrated significant differences compared to the venlafaxine XR/duloxetine switch group in cognitive outcome as measured by CPFQ scale (p > 0.025). The mean (SE) change in CPFQ scores from baseline to Week 8 was -8.04 (0.77) (aripiprazole augmentation) versus -6.70 (0.75) (venlafaxine XR/duloxetine switch), and - 8.81 (0.64) (rTMS augmentation) versus -6.72 (0.55) (venlafaxine XR/duloxetine switch). Hedge's g values were 0.21 for aripiprazole augmentation versus switching to venlafaxine XR/duloxetine and 0.33 for rTMS augmentation versus switching to venlafaxine XR/duloxetine. Although rTMS augmentation did not reach a statistically significant difference in subjective cognitive improvement, it showed a larger effect size compared to aripiprazole augmentation. Our findings signal that rTMS augmentation may offer a well-tolerated strategy for improving cognition in TRD.