PREDICTORS OF RESPONSE TO DESIPRAMINE IN DYSTHYMIA

Little is known about factors that may predict the response of dysthym ia or other forms of chronic depression to treatment with antidepressa nt medication. We investigated several sociodemographic and clinical v ariables for their relationship to the acute treatment response to des ipramine in subjects with DSM-III-R dysthymia. Subjects with DSM-III-R dysthymia were treated with desipramine in an open fashion for 10 wee ks. Various clinical and sociodemographic variables were assessed at b aseline. Ratings of depressive symptoms and severity and determination of categorical outcome were done during treatment. Baseline extended family adjustment as measured by the Social Adjustment Scale Self-Repo rt was significantly better in the responders compared with the nonres ponders (2.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.8; t = 2.84, df = 52.11, p = 0.006) . There was a trend (p = 0.06) for overall baseline social impairment (SAS-SR) to be higher in nonresponders versus responders. Older age wa s a significant predictor of higher depressive severity (Cornell Dysth ymia Rating Scale) and global impairment in the last week of the study . No other variable significantly distinguished responders from nonres ponders. Although few of the variables that were examined were found t o affect acute treatment response, better extended family adjustment a s reported on the SAS-SR was a significant predictor of good acute tre atment response to desipramine in patients with dysthymia.