Drug response as a predictor of transmission of non-bipolar major depression within families.
The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the approach of using the degree of familial aggregation to validate a subtype of affective illness. In order to determine whether clinical response to pharmacological therapy in the proband treated for non-bipolar major depression constitutes a distinct subtype of depression, rates of affective illness were examined among relatives of probands who were categorized according to the speed and magnitude of their response to somatic treatment in controlled clinical trials. First-degree relatives of probands who experienced rapid improvement during the first week and poor response on termination of treatment, were found to have the highest rates of major depression. These results require replication.
Prusoff
B A
BA
Weissman
M M
MM
Merikangas
K R
KR
Leckman
J F
JF
Kidd
K K
KK
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013997:Time Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents