Source: Kardiologiia  |  Posted 7 years ago

WEST HAVEN, CT and PHILADELPHIA, PA -- March 25, 2004 - A new study being presented yesterday at the 19th Congress of the European Association of Urology (EAU) in Vienna may give hope to men with erectile dysfunction (ED) who also have depressive symptoms.

The first clinical study to evaluate LEVITRA? (vardenafil HCl) in men with both ED and untreated mild to moderate major depressive disorder (MDD), showed that Levitra significantly improved all measures of erectile function (EF) that were studied compared with placebo.1 Men with ED taking Levitra were nearly three times more likely to report improved erections than men taking placebo.1

In addition, some improvements in depression and self-esteem were seen with Levitra compared with placebo. Results from the study, referred to as the DRIVER (Depression Related Improvement with Vardenafil for Erectile Response) trial, are being presented for the first time at EAU.

Research has shown that ED and depression are strongly associated.2 ED can be a consequence of depression, or ED may result in depression.3 According to a study of men's attitudes towards life events and sexuality, 25 percent of men with ED reported symptoms of depression or anxiety.4

REFERENCES
1. Rosen R, Montorsi F, Assalian P, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of vardenafil in men with mild
depressive disorder and erectile dysfunction: the Depression Related Improvement with Vardenafil for Erectile Response (DRIVER) study. To be presented at the 19th Congress of the European Association of Urology (EAU), March 26, 2004.
2. Araujo AB, Durante R, Feldman HA et al. The relationship between depressive symptoms and male erectile dysfunction: cross-sectional results from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Psychosom Med 1998;60:458-65.
3. Radl, J.M. Recent Developments in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction. Journal of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin 1988;May/June:26-31.
4. Rosen R, Fisher W, Eardley I, Niederberger C, Nadel A, Sand M. The Multinational Men's Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (MALES) Study: I. Prevalence of Erectile Dysfunction and Related Health Concerns in the General Population. Curr Med Res Opin 2004;20:607-617.
5. Jardin A, Wagner G, Khoury S, et al. Recommendations of the 1st International Consultation on
Erectile Dysfunction. Co-spons ored by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Consultation on Urological Diseases (ICUD) and Societe Internationale d'Urologie (SIU) and held July 1-3, 1999, Paris. 2000, p. 713.

SOURCE: Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide