title: Prediction of longer-term outcome of treatment-resistant depression in tertiary care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systematic studies on the outcome of treatment-resistant depression are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the longer-term outcome and predictors of outcome in treatment-resistant depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of 150 patients approached, 118 participants with confirmed treatment-resistant depression (unipolar, n = 77; bipolar, n = 27; secondary, n = 14) treated in a specialist in-patient centre were followed-up for between 8 and 84 months (mean = 39, s.d. = 22).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of participants attained full remission (60.2%), most of whom (48.3% of total sample) showed sustained recovery (full remission for at least 6 months). A substantial minority had persistent subsyndromal depression (19.5%) or persistent depressive episode (20.3%). Diagnosis of bipolar treatment-resistant depression and poorer social support were associated with early relapse, whereas strong social support, higher educational status and milder level of treatment resistance measured with the Maudsley Staging Method were associated with achieving quicker remission. Exploratory analysis of treatment found positive associations between treatment with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in unipolar treatment-resistant depression and attaining remission at discharge and at final follow-up, and duloxetine use predicted attainment of remission at final follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although many patients with treatment-resistant depression experience persistent symptomatology even after intensive, specialist treatment, most can achieve remission. The choice of treatment and presence of good social support may affect remission rates, whereas those with low social support and a bipolar diathesis should be considered at higher risk of early relapse. We suggest that future work to improve the long-term outcome in this disabling form of depression might focus on social interventions to improve support, and the role of neglected pharmacological interventions such as MAOIs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. abe.wassie@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Abebaw
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fekadu
authors.forename: Lena J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Rane
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wooderson
authors.forename: Kalypso
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Markopoulou
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cleare
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D061218:Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D057915:Drug Substitution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors