Acute treatment residual depression symptoms and functional impairment among depressive patients of different age groups and education levels in China: A prospective, multicenter, randomized study.

Objective: A prospective, multicenter, randomized study evaluated the efficacy of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients after 2-3 months of acute treatment based on the dual factors of education and age.
Methods: This study classified the included patients into four groups using two classification parameters: age (≤45 years, vs. >45 years) and education years (≤12 vs. >12). We analyzed age, gender, marital status, personal income, depression onset history, medication use, and follow-up across various groups. We evaluated residual somatic symptoms and social functioning in depression patients was conducted using the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-report (QIDS-SR16), the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ15), and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS).
Results: In China, 16 hospitals, 553 depression patients, and 428 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Baseline patient data revealed significant differences among the different age groups in gender, marital status, income, first onset age, physical illness, combination of antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines use (all p < .05). Statistically significant differences were observed in overall comparisons among the four groups, encompassing the QIDS-SR16 score, PHQ15 score, and various SDS parameters (all p < .05). However, no statistically significant differences (all p > .05) were found in residual somatic symptoms and social functioning parameters between different education levels (≤12 years vs. >12 years) at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, based on total scores on the scale. Repeated measures mixed model indicates that the QIDS-SR16 assessment indicates statistical differences among various marital statuses, income levels, medical histories, and antipsychotic medication use (p < .05). Furthermore, PHQ-15 and SDS assessments reveal statistical differences between single and married/cohabiting statuses, physical comorbidities, 3 and 6 months follow-ups compared to baseline (p < .05).
Conclusion: This study indicates that compared to depressive patients >45 years old, those ≤45 years old often exhibit more residual depression, somatic symptoms, and severe social functional impairment; patients' education levels less influence this trend.
(© 2024 The Author(s). Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)