A specific “at risk” profile related to recent stressful life events in euthymic major depressive disorder

Abstract

Introduction Stressful life events (SLE) may influence the illness course and outcome. Objectives The present study aimed to characterize socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of euthymic major depressive disorder (MDD) outpatients with SLE relative to those without. Methods This sample included 628 (mean age=55.1 ± 16.1) currently euthymic MDD outpatients, among them 250 (39.8%) reported SLE and 378 (60.2%) did not. Results After univariate analyses, outpatients with SLE were most frequently widowed and lived predominantly with friends/others. Furthermore, compared to outpatients without SLE, those with SLE were more likely to have a family history of suicidal behavior, manifested melancholic characteristics and higher Coping Orientation to the Problems Experienced (COPE) positive reinterpretation/growth and less likely to manifest a comorbid panic disorder, residual interepisodic symptoms, have used psychiatric medications, and use current antidepressant medications. After regression analyses, having a family history of suicide (OR=9.697; p=≤.05), history of psychotropic medications use (OR=2.888; p=≤.05), and reduced use of antidepressants (OR=.321; p=.001) were significantly associated with SLE. Mediation analyses demonstrated that the association between current use of antidepressants and SLE was mediated by previous psychiatric medications. Conclusions Having a family history of suicide, history of psychotropic medications use, and reduced use of antidepressants may confer a specific “at risk” profile related to the enhanced vulnerability to experience SLE. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• Antidepressants
• major depressive disorder
• family history of suicide
• negative distressing/stressful life events