Does early improvement in depressive symptoms predict subsequent remission in patients with depression who are treated with duloxetine?

Figures & data

Figure 1 The mean MADRS total scores by visit.

Abbreviation: MADRS, Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale.

Figure 2 The mean MADRS subscale scores by visit.

Abbreviation: MADRS, Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale.

Table 1 Demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics of patients

Clinical indices	Remitters (n=38)	Non-remitters (n=29)	Odds ratio	95% CI	P-value
Age, mean ± SD (years)	46.0±15.4	37.8±15.4	1.037	0.878–0.996	0.039*
Sex (N)	M 19, F 19	M 7, F 22	0.318	0.11–0.92	0.035*
BMI, mean ± SD	23.8±5.0	22.1±4.9	1.078	0.969–1.199	0.166
Recurrent MDD (%)	40.5	31	0.66	0.231–1.82	0.424
Duloxetine dose at end point, mean ± SD (mg)	45.5±18.1	50.3±15.7	0.983	0.955–1.012	0.254
Duloxetine plasma concentration, mean ± SD (ng/mL)	29.5±25.9	22.8±20.8	1.013	0.99–1.036	0.2634
MADRS baseline score (total), mean ± SD	29.4±6.2	32.0±6.6	0.937	0.866–1.014	0.1071
MADRS baseline score (dysphoria), mean ± SD	7.7±2.1	8.0±2.6	0.948	0.77–1.167	0.6147
MADRS baseline score (retardation), mean ± SD	13.0±3.2	14.4±2.6	0.854	0.719–1.015	0.0727
MADRS baseline score (vegetative), mean ± SD	8.7±2.7	9.6±2.5	0.865	0.714–1.049	0.1418

Notes: Odds ratios estimated from univariate logistic regression models of remission classification.

* Statistically significant value (P<0.05).

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SD, standard deviation; BMI, body mass index; MDD, major depressive disorder; MADRS, Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale; M, male; F, female.

Table 2 Association between improvements at week 4 in each MADRS scores and subsequent remission

Clinical indices	Odds ratio	95% CI	P-value
Change in MADRS total score from baseline to week 4	0.935	0.878–0.996	0.038*
Change in MADRS dysphoria score from baseline to week 4	0.787	0.640–0.968	0.023*
Change in MADRS retardation score from baseline to week 4	0.898	0.802–1.005	0.06
Change in MADRS vegetative score from baseline to week 4	0.909	0.779–1.060	0.222

Notes: Odds ratios estimated from univariate logistic regression models of remission classification.

* Statistically significant value (P<0.05).

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; MADRS, Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale.

Table 3 Odds ratios estimated from multivariate logistic regression models of remission classification

Clinical indices	Odds ratio	95% CI	P-value
Change in MADRS total score from baseline to week 4	0.945	0.885–1.009	0.0925
Age	1.032	0.997–1.070	0.0758
Sex (reference: male)	0.314	0.103–0.961	0.0424*
Change in MADRS dysphoria score from baseline to week 4	0.82	0.663–1.014	0.0672
Age	1.035	0.999–1.072	0.0597
Sex (reference: male)	0.347	0.113–1.066	0.0646
Change in MADRS retardation score from baseline to week 4	0.914	0.813–1.027	0.1316
Age	1.035	0.999–1.071	0.0546
Sex (reference: male)	0.322	0.106–0.979	0.0458*
Change in MADRS vegetative score from baseline to week 4	0.918	0.775–1.086	0.3171
Age	1.034	0.999–1.070	0.0591
Sex (reference: male)	0.288	0.095–0.876	0.0282*

Note:

* Statistically significant value (P<0.05).

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; MADRS, Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale.