title: Health-related quality of life and symptom severity in Chinese patients with major depressive disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) have been reported to have substantial long-lasting limitations in multiple domains of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The thoughtful assessment of HRQoL and the impact of treatment response on HRQoL are emerging as important issues in the care of patients with major depressive disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and three patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for MDD took fluoxetine (20 mg/d) for 6 weeks and were assessed by the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating (HAMD-17) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scales. Relationships between SF-36 scores and depressive symptom severity and early change of these symptoms were tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SF-36 component scores at week 6 were higher than those at baseline (all P ≤ 0.0058). Scores for general health were significantly higher in responders than non-responders (P = 0.0009). The overall HAMD-17 and CGI scores at 2- and 6-week follow-up were significantly lower than those at baseline (P ≤ 0.0001). Higher scores for anxiety/somatization were significantly associated with poorer SF-36 scores at baseline (P = 0.0001); role-physical scores at week 6 were positively correlated with reduction rate of anxiety/somatization in 2-week follow-up (P = 0.0002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depressive symptom severity was associated with HRQoL in patients with MDD. HRQoL may vary with severity of depression and/or anxiety-somatization at baseline.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jingjin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Malison
authors.forename: Yalin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xingguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine
keywords: Chinese; correlation; health-related quality of life; major depressive disorder; symptom severity