TEMPERAMENT PREDICTS CLOMIPRAMINE AND DESIPRAMINE RESPONSE IN MAJOR DEPRESSION

Clinical predictors of drug response in major depression have been wea k and inconsistent. Eighty-four patients suffering from a current majo r depressive episode completed a 6-week double-blind trial of either c lomipramine or desipramine. Temperament, as measured by the Tridimensi onal Personality Questionnaire, accounted for 35% of the variance in t reatment outcome, compared with less than 5% predicted by clinical var iables. In the more severely depressed patients, temperament predicted nearly 50% of the variance in treatment outcome, which is the first t ime that such a substantial predictor of drug response has been identi fied. Within depressed women, temperament also predicted response to d ifferent antidepressant drugs. The potential importance of temperament , and the need for replication of these findings is discussed.