Factors Affecting Antidepressant Response Trajectories: A Veterans Affairs Augmentation and Switching Treatments for Improving Depression Outcomes Trial Report

In this secondary analysis of the VA Augmentation and Switching Treatments for Improving Depression Outcomes (VAST‐D) study we used antidepressant response trajectories to assess the association of treatment and multiple clinical/demographic factors with the probability of response. Using data from VAST‐D, a multi‐site, randomized, single‐blind trial with parallel‐assignment to one of three treatment interventions in 1522 Veterans whose major depressive disorder was unresponsive to at least one antidepressant trial, we evaluated response patterns using group‐based trajectory modeling (GBTM). A weighted multinomial logistic regression analysis with backward elimination and additional exploratory analyses were performed to evaluate the association of multiple clinical/demographic factors with the probability of inclusion into specific trajectories. Additional exploratory analyses were used to identify factors associated with trajectory group membership that could have been missed in the primary analysis. GBTM showed the best fit for depression symptom change was comprised of six trajectories, with some trajectories demonstrating minimal improvement and others showing a high probability of remission. High baseline depression and anxiety severity scores decreased, and early improvement increased, the likelihood of inclusion into the most responsive trajectory in both the GBTM and exploratory analyses. While multiple factors influence responsiveness, the probability of inclusion into a specific depression symptom trajectory is most strongly influenced by three factors: baseline depression, baseline anxiety, and the presence of early improvement. In a large study of U.S. Veterans with moderate to severe depression group‐based trajectory modeling demonstrated six response trajectories as the best fit for depression symptom change over time.A weighted multinomial logistic regression analysis with backward elimination identified multiple factors influencing antidepressant responsiveness, but response trajectories are most strongly influenced by three factors: baseline depression, baseline anxiety, and the presence of early improvement. In a large study of U.S. Veterans with moderate to severe depression group‐based trajectory modeling demonstrated six response trajectories as the best fit for depression symptom change over time. A weighted multinomial logistic regression analysis with backward elimination identified multiple factors influencing antidepressant responsiveness, but response trajectories are most strongly influenced by three factors: baseline depression, baseline anxiety, and the presence of early improvement.