Impact of self-reported juvenile abuse on treatment outcome in patients with major depressive disorder

BackgroundWe assessed the impact of juvenile abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual) on response to treatment in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) suboptimally responsive to antidepressant therapy.MethodsA post hoc analysis explored the relationship between self-reported history of juvenile abuse and response to risperidone or placebo augmentation during a 6-week double-blind study period in patients with MDD suboptimally responsive to a previous adequate trial of antidepressant monotherapy.ResultsOverall, only one clinical measure showed a small, but statistically significant difference in outcome between patients with abuse versus without abuse (HRSD-17). In patients reporting abuse (n=141), improvement with risperidone versus placebo augmentation was greater on several measures: HRSD-17 total and 2 subscale scores, responder rates, Q-LES-Q, and PaRTS-D. In patients without abuse (n=127), only two measures showed significant improvement: HRSD-17 subscale and PaRTS-D. Responder rates (HRSD-17) were: 40.9% (risperidone) versus 23.1% (placebo; p=0.01; odds ratio=2.7) in those with abuse, and 41.0% versus 34.4% (p=0.39; odds ratio=1.4) in those without. Adverse events rates were: 37.0% (risperidone) and 54.4% (placebo) in patients with abuse, and 56.3% and 55.6% in those without.LimitationsAnalysis not preplanned. Validated questionnaire not used to determine abuse status.ConclusionsSelf-reported juvenile abuse history may impact response to risperidone augmentation therapy in adults with MDD suboptimally responsive to antidepressants. Abuse status may reduce placebo response and reporting of adverse events.