Moderators of the synchrony of change between decreasing depression severity and disability

The Dutch Measure for quantification of Treatment Resistance in Depression (DM-TRD): an extension of the Maudsley Staging Method

BACKGROUND

Treatment resistant depression (TRD) is common in daily practice. An empirical, widely accepted and applicable measure to quantify TRD is lacking. Previously, the Maudsley Staging Method (MSM) showed good validity. We aimed to improve the MSM by refining and extending its items resulting in the Dutch Measure for quantification of TRD (DM-TRD).

METHODS

In addition to duration, severity and failed treatments in the current depressive episode, we added items for functional impairment, comorbid anxiety, personality disorders and psychosocial stressors. We extended the augmentation section and added items for failed psychotherapy and intensified treatment. We examined psychometric properties of the DM-TRD and tested prediction of future depressive symptoms and remission after 16 weeks in 274 (DSM-IV) depressed in- and outpatients entering naturalistic treatment.

RESULTS

The DM-TRD showed excellent inter-/intra-rater reliability. Higher scores were associated with more symptoms and less remission during follow-up. The DM-TRD outperformed the MSM in prediction of future depressive symptomatology. Remission was predicted equally well by both measures. Longer duration of the current episode, larger functional impairment and larger baseline symptom severity were the strongest predictors of symptomatology at follow-up. Longer duration and larger functional impairment were negatively associated with remission.

LIMITATIONS

Longer follow-up could have increased predictive power. Addition of items for somatic co-morbidity, childhood adversity and psychotic features must be investigated further.

CONCLUSION

The DM-TRD has excellent psychometric properties and better predictive validity for clinical outcome than other sophisticated measure published to date. Its use in clinical practice and research will improve treatment planning in TRD-patients.

The role of empowerment and quality of life in depression severity among unemployed people with affective disorders receiving mental healthcare

PURPOSE

Sick leave and unemployment are highly prevalent among people with affective disorders. Their depression severity is disabling and inversely related to having employment. No evidence-based vocational rehabilitation exists for this target group. Knowledge is therefore needed to understand the psychosocial factors that affect depression severity in order to develop new rehabilitation interventions. This study examined relationships between depression severity and empowerment, working life aspirations, occupational engagement, and quality of life in unemployed people with affective disorders receiving mental healthcare.

METHOD

In this cross-sectional study of 61 participants, instruments on psychosocial factors and questions on descriptive sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were administered. Descriptive, correlation, and regression statistics were applied.

RESULTS

Correlation and regression analyses showed significant inverse relations between depression severity and empowerment and quality of life. The odds for more severe depression decreased with higher empowerment and quality of life. However, neither extent of engagement in daily life nor working life aspiration was related to depression severity.

CONCLUSIONS

An empowerment approach and strategies, which support the quality of life, are needed in development of vocational rehabilitation interventions, and bridging of mental healthcare and vocational services. Implications for Rehabilitation Enhancing empowerment and quality life in the return to work process can decrease depression severity in unemployed people with affective disorder. There is a need to address work issues in addition to symptom reduction in primary and mental healthcare. Bridging the service and time gap between vocational rehabilitation and healthcare is recommended for mitigating long-term unemployment for people with affective disorders who want to work.

Does collaborative care improve social functioning in adults with depression? The application of the WHO ICF framework and meta-analysis of outcomes

BACKGROUND

Collaborative care has proven efficacy in improving symptoms of depression, yet patients value improvements in their social function also. We used the World Health Organisation's International classification of functioning, disability, and health (WHO ICF) to robustly identify measures of social function and explored whether collaborative care interventions improve social functioning using meta-analysis.

METHODS

We performed a secondary data analysis on studies identified from our previous Cochrane review of collaborative care interventions for depression and search update (December 2013). The WHO ICF framework was applied to identify studies that included self-report measures of social functioning. Outcomes were extracted at short-term (6 months) and medium-term (≥7 months) and analysed using random-effects meta-analysis. The relationship between improvements in depression outcomes and improvements in social functioning was also explored using bivarable meta-regression.

RESULTS

Eighteen trials were identified that measured social functioning and met our remaining inclusion criteria. Collaborative care was associated with small improvements in social functioning in the short (Standardised Mean Difference, SMD=0.23, 95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.34) and medium term (SMD=0.19, 95% confidence interval 0.09 to 0.29). Improvements in depressive symptoms were associated with moderate improvements in social function (ß=-0.55, 95% confidence interval -0.82 to -0.28) but cross-sectionally only.

LIMITATIONS

The small number of studies (N=18) prevented more complex analyses to explore moderators of social functioning outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Collaborative care improves social functioning but the mechanisms through which this occurs are unknown. Future depression interventions need to consider a person's degree of social function equally alongside their depressive symptoms.

Course and risk factors of functional impairment in subthreshold depression and anxiety

BACKGROUND

Although persons with subthreshold depression or anxiety are known to be at risk for full-syndromal disorders, little is known about their functioning over time. In this study, we investigate the functional impairment of persons with subthreshold depression or anxiety over time, compared to that of controls. Furthermore, we evaluate which illness, personal, and environmental risk factors influence its course.

METHODS

Data come from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (N = 1,266, aged 18-65). Linear mixed models were used to identify predictors of functional impairment at baseline, 1-, and 2-year follow-up. Risk factors were evaluated in their overall effect on functioning and on change in functioning over time, and whether they differed for respondents with and without subthreshold depression or anxiety.

RESULTS

Functional impairment in subthreshold respondents improved over time, but remained much higher than in controls. Prior anxiety disorder, high neuroticism, low conscientiousness, more somatic conditions, and more childhood trauma all predicted greater functional impairment. Older age predicted lower functioning only in subthreshold respondents, while the effect of neuroticism was stronger in subthreshold respondents relative to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional impairment in subthreshold respondents improved over time, but remained elevated compared to that of controls. Given continuously elevated levels of impairment, preventive interventions should be focused on persons with subthreshold symptoms; in particular those with prior anxiety disorder, high neuroticism, low conscientiousness, somatic conditions, or childhood trauma.