A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THE TREATMENT RESPONSE IN PATIENTS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER WITH ANXIOUS DISTRESS

Abstract

Background: Although recent studies show that anxious distress worsens the clinical presentation and treatment response in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), there have been no studies related to the issue in Vietnam.

Objective: To determine the remission rate and related factors in patients with MDD experiencing anxiety distress aged 18 years and older.

Methods: An analytical retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 99 patients with MDD and anxiety distress at the Psychiatry clinic of the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City from July 2020 to July 2022.

Results: The response and remission rates at week 8 were 73.7% and 45.5%, respectively. Factors associated with remission at week 8 included having fewer than two depressive episodes, achieving response to treatment at week 4, and using a higher antidepressant dose (mean 1.7  0.6 defined daily dose [DDD]).

Conclusion: Patients with MDD with anxious distress achieved remission more slowly than those without the symptom. However, by the time of the acute phase, 8 to 12 weeks after treatment, the remission rate was similar to that of general patients with MDD, with a remission rate less than 50%.

Keywords: major depressive disorder, anxious distress, remission rate, response rate