title: Effectiveness of a quantitative electroencephalographic biomarker for predicting differential response or remission with escitalopram and bupropion in major depressive disorder.
abstract: We examined the Antidepressant Treatment Response (ATR) index as a predictor of differential response and remission to escitalopram, bupropion, or a combination of the two medications, in subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD). Three hundred seventy-five subjects had a baseline quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) study preceding 1 week of treatment with escitalopram, 10 mg, after which a second QEEG was performed and the ATR index was calculated. Subjects then were randomized to continue escitalopram, switch to bupropion, or receive a combination of the two. Clinical response was assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale at 49 days of treatment. Accuracy of ATR in predicting response and remission was calculated. There were no significant differences between response and remission rates in the three treatment groups. A single ATR threshold was useful for predicting differential response to either escitalopram or bupropion monotherapy. Subjects with ATR values above the threshold were more than 2.4 times as likely to respond to escitalopram as those with low ATR values (68% vs. 28%). Subjects with ATR values below the threshold who were switched to bupropion treatment were 1.9 times as likely to respond to bupropion alone as those who remained on escitalopram treatment (53% vs. 28%). The ATR index did not provide a useful prediction of response to combination treatment. The ATR index may prove useful in predicting responsiveness to different antidepressant medications.
authors.affiliation: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1759, USA. afl@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leuchter
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Gilmer
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Marangell
authors.forename: Karl S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Burgoyne
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Howland
authors.forename: Madhukar H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zisook
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iosifescu
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greenwald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D016642:Bupropion; D015283:Citalopram