title: Predictors of antidepressant treatment outcome in melancholia: psychosocial, clinical and biological indicators.
abstract: Predictive variables of response to imipramine and to phenelzine at 6 weeks and 6 months were studied in 116 patients suffering from major depression with melancholia (DSM-III). Several sociodemographic, clinical, and biological variables were studied. For imipramine-treated patients, high social support predicted a better response at 6 weeks, while development of hypomania during follow-up was associated with a better response at 6 weeks; absence of life events during the 6-month follow-up and initial non-suppression of dexamethasone predicted a better outcome at 6 months. For phenelzine-treated patients, development of hypomania during follow-up was associated with a better outcome at 6 months and absence of life events prior to the onset of the episode was associated with a worse outcome at 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of Bellvitge School of Medicine, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Catalan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulbena
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Menchon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007099:Imipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008016:Life Change Events; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests; D010624:Phenelzine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D010624:Phenelzine; D007099:Imipramine; D006854:Hydrocortisone