title: Effect of comorbid anxiety on treatment response and relapse risk in late-life depression: controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Comorbid anxiety is common in depressive disorders in both middle and late life, and it affects response to antidepressant treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether anxiety symptoms predict acute and maintenance (2 years) treatment response in late-life depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from a randomised double-blind study of pharmacotherapy and interpersonal psychotherapy for patients age 70 years and over with major depression. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Survival analysis tested the effect of pre-treatment anxiety on response and recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with greater pretreatment anxiety took longer to respond to treatment and had higher rates of recurrence. Actuarial recurrence rates were 29% (pharmacotherapy, lower anxiety), 58% (pharmacotherapy, higher anxiety), 54% (placebo, lower anxiety) and 81% (placebo, higher anxiety).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved identification and management of anxiety in late-life depression are needed to achieve response and stabilise recovery.
authors.affiliation: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Room E 823, Pittsburgh, PA15213, USA. Lenzee@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andreescu
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lenze
authors.forename: Mary Amanda
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dew
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Begley
authors.forename: Benoit H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Mulsant
authors.forename: Alexandre Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Dombrovski
authors.forename: Bruce G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors