Dimensions in major depressive disorder and their relevance for treatment outcome

AbstractBackground depressive disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous disease. More homogeneous psycho(patho)logical dimensions would facilitate MDD research as well as clinical practice. The first aim of this study was to find potential dimensions within a broad psychopathological assessment in depressed patients. Second, we aimed at examining how these dimensions predicted course in MDD. s ychopathological variables were assessed in 75 MDD inpatients. Factor and regression analyses assessed putative relations between psychopathological factors and depression severity and outcome after 8 weeks of treatment. s ctor model (eigenvalue: 54.4%) was found, representing a psychomotor change, anhedonia and negative affect factor. Anhedonia and negative affect predicted depression severity (R2=0.37, F=20.86, p<0.0001). Anhedonia predicted non-response (OR 6.00, CI 1.46–24.59) and both negative affect (OR 5.69, CI 1.19–27.20) and anhedonia predicted non-remission (OR 9.28, CI 1.85–46.51). tions mple size of the study was relatively modest, limiting the number of variables included in the analysis. sions s confirm that psychomotor change, anhedonia and negative affect are key MDD dimensions, two of which are related to treatment outcome.