Resistance or pseudo-resistance?

Abstract

IntroductionTreatment-Resistant Depression continues to represent a great challenge for clinicians.ObjectivesWe investigated patients with history of resistance, assessing prognostic factors, response to treatments, and remission over time.MethodsWe recruited 202 unipolar and bipolar depressed inpatients. According to anamnestic backgrounds, patients were assigned to: A) Non-resistant : responders, with no characteristics of resistance in the current episode. B) Resistant: resistant to two antidepressant trials of adequate doses and duration. C) Pseudo-resistant : non-responders, not classifiable as Resistant because of inadequate trials. During hospitalization, patients were treated by clinical judgment, following a rehabilitation program.Results Table 1Non-resistant (111)Resistant (54)Pseudo-resistant (35)p-valueAge59.1±11.963.0±12.657.0±11.30.036*Episodes of illness3.8±2.14.0±1.93.0±1.80.036*Personality disorders27.0%18.9%48.6%0.009**Therapies:0.014**SSRI62.4%40.4%69.7%SNRI19.8%42.3%15.1%TCA17.8%17.3%15.1%Augmentation24.3%38.9%17.1%0.05**Remission76.5%59.5%81.2%CvsB:0.045** CvsA:0.587**On the day of admission, non-responders were 44.5% of the sample, but 39.3% of them did not meet the Resistant criteria, defining the Pseudo-resistant group. Pseudo-resistant differed from others by younger age, fewer illness episodes, higher rate of personality disorders, and different therapies during hospitalization [Fig.1,2,3]. Pseudo-resistant remission rate, significantly greater than Resistant one, was comparable to Non-resistant [Tab.1]. *Kruskal-Wallis Test **Chi-Squared TestConclusionsThis study outlines a new group of depressed patients that, apparently drug-resistant, displays the same outcome as responders when treated with first-line drugs during hospitalization, certainly taking benefit from the psychoeducational program. Quick recognition of these patients could be crucial to giving optimal care.DisclosureNo significant relationships.