Treatment outcome validation of DSM-III depressive subtypes. Clinical usefulness in outpatients with mild to moderate depression.
An algorithm for transcribing Research Diagnostic Criteria diagnoses for depressive disorders to similar categories in the DSM-III was applied to 103 depressed outpatients previously diagnosed by Research Diagnostic Criteria. All had Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores of 18 or less. Among 64 patients completing a six-week, double-blind study comparing desipramine hydrochloride with placebo, desipramine was significantly more effective than placebo in patients with DSM-III major depression but not in those with dysthymic disorder. Among patients with major depression, a significant drug-placebo response difference was demonstrated even in those without melancholia. These findings support the clinical usefulness of the DSM-III in the treatment of depressed outpatients. Independent of DSM-III diagnosis, however, evidence of panic attacks seemed to identify patients who benefited from desipramine therapy. This suggests that the DSM-III hierarchy, which excludes consideration of panic in patients with major depression, may require revision.
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003891:Desipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D010200:Panic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011897:Random Allocation
D003891:Desipramine