BMC Psychiatry (Oct 2018)

Humanistic outcomes in treatment resistant depression: a secondary analysis of the STAR*D study

  • Allitia DiBernardo,
  • Xiwu Lin,
  • Qiaoyi Zhang,
  • Jim Xiang,
  • Lang Lu,
  • Carol Jamieson,
  • Carmela Benson,
  • Kwan Lee,
  • Robert Bodén,
  • Lena Brandt,
  • Philip Brenner,
  • Johan Reutfors,
  • Gang Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1920-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Background In the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study, a third of patients did not achieve remission or adequate response after two treatment trials, fulfilling requirements for treatment resistant depression (TRD). The present study is a secondary analysis of the STAR*D data conducted to compare the humanistic outcomes in patients with TRD and non-TRD MDD. Methods Patients with major depressive disorder who entered level 3 of the STAR*D were included in the TRD group, while patients who responded to treatment and entered follow-up from level 1 or 2 were included in the non-TRD group. The first visit in level 1 was used for baseline assessments. The time-point of assessments for comparison was the first visit in level 3 for TRD patients (median day: 141), and the visit closest to 141 ± 60 days from baseline for non-TRD patients. Outcomes were assessed by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF12), 16-item Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment scale (WPAI). Scores were compared in a linear model with adjustment for covariates including age, gender, and depression severity measured by the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS17) and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS). Results A total of 2467 (TRD: 377; non-TRD: 2090) patients were studied. TRD patients were slightly older (mean age 44 vs 42 years), had a higher proportion of men (49% vs 37%, p < .0001), and baseline depression severity (HDRS17: 24.4 vs 22.0, p < .0001) vs non-TRD patients. During follow-up, TRD patients had lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores on mental (30 vs 45.7) and physical components (47.7 vs 48.9) of the SF12, and lower Q-LES-Q scores (43.6 vs 63.7), greater functional and work impairments and productivity loss vs non-TRD patients (all p < 0.05). Conclusion Patients with TRD had worse HRQOL, work productivity, and social functioning than the non-TRD patients.

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