title: The impact of depression on the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: results from a 5-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many OCD patients present with comorbid conditions, and major depression is one of the most frequent comorbidities observed. OCD patients with comorbid depression exhibit functional disability and poor quality of life. However, it is unclear whether depressive symptoms are predictive of treatment response, and debate remains whether they should be targeted in the treatment of comorbid patients. The current study aimed at assessing the predictive value of depression and OCD symptoms in the long term outcome of OCD treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current study, relations between OCD and depressive symptoms were systematically investigated in a group of 121 OCD patients who received 16 sessions of behavior or cognitive therapy either alone or with fluvoxamine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression (either as a continuous or categorical variable) was not predictive of treatment response in any of the treatment modalities for up to 5 years of follow-up. Changes in OCD symptoms largely predicted changes in depressive symptoms but not vice versa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subsequent to participation in the RCT, almost two-thirds of the participants received some form of additional treatment (either pharmacological or psychological), and as a result, it is impossible to determine interaction effects with additional treatment received after the trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of OCD with comorbid depression should focus on amelioration of OCD symptoms. When OCD treatment is successful, depressive symptoms are likely to ameliorate as well.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU-University Medical Center and Academic Outpatient Clinic for Anxiety Disorders, GGZ InGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ganholt@bgu.ac.il
authors: Gideon E
authors: GE
authors: Anholt
authors: Idan M
authors: IM
authors: Aderka
authors: Anton J L M
authors: AJ
authors: van Balkom
authors: Johannes H
authors: JH
authors: Smit
authors: Haggai
authors: H
authors: Hermesh
authors: Els
authors: E
authors: de Haan
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: van Oppen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016666:Fluvoxamine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors