Earlier improvement can be a predictor of better outcomes^1,2

Patients who show improvement within 2 weeks of starting an antidepressant are more likely to achieve remission^1,2

In a meta-analysis of clinical trials, early improvement* in depression symptoms (within the first 2 weeks of treatment) was shown to be a predictor of achieving response and remission.¹

Patients with early improvement* were ~6x more likely to achieve remission¹

(OR=6.38; 95% CI: 5.07-8.02; P<0.000)

*In a meta-analysis of 17 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of 14,779 adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), early improvement was defined as a ≥20%, ≥25%, or ≥30% reduction in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD)/Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) sum score of depression severity from baseline to day 7 or 14 of treatment.¹

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MDD=major depressive disorder;

PPD=postpartum depression

Patients experiencing response or remission by 6 weeks were more likely to be in remission at 12 months^2†

Percent of patients with MDD treated with an antidepressant who had good outcomes^† at 12 months of follow-up (N=930)²

Of the 191 patients who had both early response and early remission, 81% had a good outcome (vs 70% of the 164 patients with early response but without early remission).²

Early remission was the strongest predictor of a good 12-month outcome (OR=4.72; 95% CI, 3.17-7.05)²

Patients with early remission^† showed average normal functioning as early as 6 weeks, whereas those without early remission took up to 1 full follow-up year to regain average normal functioning.^2†

^†In a study of 930 patients with MDD, early response to an antidepressant was defined as 50% improvement on the HDRS-17 vs baseline by week 6, while early remission was defined as no longer meeting the criteria for MDD according to the DSM-IV-TR in addition to a HDRS-17 score ≤7 by week 6. Good outcome was defined as achieving remission within 6 months of starting an antidepressant and remaining in remission until the end of follow-up at 12 months.²

DSM-IV-TR=Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition, Text Revision; HDRS-17=Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

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Earlier improvement can be a predictor of better outcomes1,2

Patients who show improvement within 2 weeks of starting an antidepressant are more likely to achieve remission1,2

Patients experiencing response or remission by 6 weeks were more likely to be in remission at 12 months2†

Percent of patients with MDD treated with an antidepressant who had good outcomes† at 12 months of follow-up (N=930)2

Early remission was the strongest predictor of a good 12-month outcome (OR=4.72; 95% CI, 3.17-7.05)2