Interpersonal sensitivity and response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients with acute major depressive disorder
Interpersonal sensitivity and response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients with acute major depressive disorder
Abstract
Background: Patients with major depression often suffer from excessive interpersonal sensitivity, although it is not typically measured in antidepressant clinical trials. Preliminary evidence suggests selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have the capacity to reduce interpersonal sensitivity. Methods: This was a pooled analysis of data from 1709 patients in three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of fluoxetine and paroxetine for acute major depressive disorder. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. A factor from the Symptom Checklist was used to assess interpersonal sensitivity. Our outcome of interest was change from baseline scores at the last assessment (up to 8 or 12 weeks, depending on the trial). Results: Both medications produced significantly greater reductions in interpersonal sensitivity relative to placebo. The effect of medication remained significant after controlling for depression improvement, which explained 18.5% of the variation in interpersonal sensitivity improvement among those treated with active medication. The effect of medication on depressive symptoms, relative to placebo, was not influenced by baseline interpersonal sensitivity. Limitations: The outcome measured interpersonal sensitivity over the last week, and the results do not necessarily reflect changes in long-standing, trait-like patterns of interpersonal sensitivity. Only two medications were studied. Conclusions: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective at treating interpersonal sensitivity in acutely depressed patients. This appears to be a unique drug effect that is not only the result of depression improvement. Future clinical trials might benefit from assessing interpersonal sensitivity more routinely. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Accession Number: 2024-77463-053. PMID: 38537756 Partial author list: First Author & Affiliation: Peters, Evyn M.; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, evyn.peters@usask.ca. Release Date: 20240718. Publication Type: Journal (0100), Peer Reviewed Journal (0110). Format Covered: Electronic. Document Type: Journal Article. Language: English. Major Descriptor: Antidepressant Drugs; Drug Sensitivity; Drug Therapy; Major Depression; Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Symptoms. Classification: Affective Disorders (3211); Clinical Psychopharmacology (3340). Population: Human (10); Male (30); Female (40); Outpatient (60). Age Group: Adulthood (18 yrs & older) (300). Tests & Measures: Symptom Checklist-90; Raskin Depression Scale; Covi Anxiety Scale; Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression DOI: 10.1037/t04100-000. Methodology: Empirical Study; Quantitative Study. References Available: Y. Page Count: 4. Issue Publication Date: Jun 15, 2024. Publication History: First Posted Date: Mar 26, 2024; Accepted Date: Mar 23, 2024; Revised Date: Feb 29, 2024; First Submitted Date: Dec 5, 2023. Copyright Statement: All rights reserved. Elsevier B.V. 2024.
