title: Health-related quality of life in depression: a STAR*D report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with significant impairments in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), few studies have evaluated HRQOL dysfunction in multiple domains. This report examined the psychological, physical, and social domains in a large sample of outpatients who entered the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relationship of HRQOL and baseline sociodemographic and clinical features, including depressive severity, was evaluated. We assessed HRQOL with the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, the 5-item Work and Social Adjustment Scale, and the 16-item Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 2307 participants, greater depressive symptom severity was associated with poorer HRQOL. After controlling for age and depression severity, lower HRQOL was related independently to being African American or Hispanic, less educated, unemployed, divorced or separated, having public medical insurance, and to having more general medical disorders. We found impairments across all 3 domains, with low correlations between the 3 measures of HRQOL chosen, suggesting that they evaluate different and nonoverlapping aspects of function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sociodemographically disadvantaged patients with greater general medical and depressive illness burden are at greatest risk for poorer quality of life. Distinct impairments are seen in the 3 domains of HRQOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9119, USA.
authors.forename: Ella J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Madhukar H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wisniewski
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nierenberg
authors.forename: Bradley N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Gaynes
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Warden
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Luther
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farabaugh
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: A John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rush
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires