Prognostic factors determining response to antidepressant drugs in psychiatric out-patients and general practice |
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Authors: | P J Tyrer I Lee J G Edwards B Steinberg E J Elliott J H Nightingale |
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Institution: | 1. University Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Graham Road, Southampton S09 4PE, Great Britain;2. Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Graham Road, Southampton S09 4PE, Great Britain;3. General Practitioners, Southampton, Great Britain |
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Abstract: | The outcome of antidepressant drug treatment was measured in 200 patients, 145 seen in psychiatric out-patient clinics and 55 in general practice, after 4 weeks of therapy. The results of the 200 patients taken together suggested that prognosis was largely determined by factors dependent on the natural history of the disorder and that clinical symptoms were unimportant, but when the results for patients in each drug group were analysed separately symptoms were more important than natural history factors. We conclude that clinical symptoms are only important predictors of response to antidepressant drugs when the patients studied are homogeneous with regard to natural history factors, particularly duration of illness. |
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Keywords: | Address for reprints: Dr P J Tyrer Mapperley Hospital Porchester Road Nottingham NG3 6AA Great Britain |
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