Treatment Outcomes of Depression The Pharmacogenomic Research Network Antidepressant Medication Pharmacogenomic Study

Background The effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) is controversial. Aims The clinical outcomes of subjects with nonpsychotic MDD were reported and compared with the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study outcomes to provide guidance on the effectiveness of SSRIs. Methods Subjects were treated with citalopram/escitalopram for up to 8 weeks. Depression was measured using the Quick Inventory of Depressive SymptomatologyClinician Rated (QIDS-C16) and the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Results The group of subjects with at least 1 follow-up visit had a remission (QIDS-C16 5) rate of 45.8% as well as a response (50% reduction in QIDS-C16) rate of 64.8%, and 79.9% achieved an improvement of 5 points or higher in QIDS-C16 score. The Pharmacogenomic Research Network Antidepressant Medication Pharmacogenomic Study subjects were more likely to achieve a response than STAR*D study subjects. After adjustment for demographic factors, the response rates were not significantly different. When reporting the adverse effect burden, 60.5% of the subjects reported no impairment, 31.7% reported a minimal-to-mild impairment, and 7.8% reported a moderate-to-severe burden at the 4-week visit. Conclusions Patients contemplating initiating an SSRI to treat their MDD can anticipate a high probability of symptom improvement (79.9%) with a low probability that their symptoms will become worse. Patients with lower baseline severity have a higher probability of achieving remission. The Pharmacogenomic Research Network Antidepressant Medication Pharmacogenomic Study replicates many findings of the first phase of the STAR*D study after controlling for the differences between the studies.