METHOD: Terms of "Vortioxetine" OR "LuAA21004" AND "anxiety" OR "fear" OR "panic" OR "phobia" were searched. A total of two phase II and five phase III clinical trials were found.

RESULTS: Vortioxetine was overall superior to placebo in terms of the mean change from baseline in HAM-A total score at week 8 with the pool effect size of -2.95, 95% CIs, -4.37 to -1.53, p<0.01. The patients who received 5 mg of Vortioxetine had higher response rate when compared to placebo (pooled odds ratio=1.4, 95% CI = 1.08 to 1.82, p=0.01). However, the pooled odds ratio of the HAMA remission rate was not statistically significant for both Vortioxetine and placebo (pooled odds ratio= 1.06, 95% CI = 0.86 to 1.30, p=0.62). Although the discontinuation due to adverse effects was higher in Vortioxetine than placebo group (pooled OR= 1.55, 95% CI = 1.04 to 2.31, P= 0.037), the lack of efficacy (pooled OR= 0.39, 95% CI = 0.27 to 0.57, P<0.01) was higher in placebo than Vortioxetine group. Most of the adverse effects were mild and moderate. Overall, Vortioxetine displayed a good safety and tolerability profile.