Acute and continuation therapy in unipolar depression: observations from the run-in phase of a maintenance trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to analyze treatments and outcome in depressed patients.


METHODS
Patients with recurrent depressive disorder (n = 289), recruited for a prophylaxis study, were followed up in hospital settings for 6 months with diagnostic and depression ratings at baseline and monthly depression ratings. Data on psychotropic drugs were retrieved from hospital case records. Independent associations between baseline, treatment and outcome variables were examined by logistic regression models.


RESULTS
Depressive symptoms subsided gradually. After 6 months, 21% had dropped out, 43% were rated as remitted (HAM-D-17 <8) and 8% had not responded (HAM-D-17 >15). Patients once remitted rarely relapsed (<5%). All patients received antidepressant drugs, half of them more than one (2-4) as well as other psychotropic drugs. Patients responding poorly received more frequently multiple antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants, hypnosedatives, lithium and/or antipsychotics.


CONCLUSIONS
The 6-month outcome was generally poor. Choice of treatment appeared at least partly to be determined by the therapeutic outcome.
Gram
L F
LF
Clinical Pharmacology, IST, University of Southern Denmark, Winsløwparken 19, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark. lf_gram@yahoo.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003718:Denmark; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs