López E, et al. – The present study sought to compare symptomatic and functional outcomes of antidepressant treatment in Hispanic and non–Hispanic patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The results of this study revealed that Hispanic and non–Hispanic members with MDD had similar responses to antidepressant treatment as measured by depressive symptom severity scores, quality of life, and functioning. Although, Hispanic patients reported significantly worse quality of life at entry.

Methods

• For the purpose of this study, the researchers inspected two thousand two hundred eighty nonpsychotic treatment-seeking adults with MDD who received citalopram monotherapy in Level 1 of the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study.
• All subjects (239 Hispanic, 2,041 non-Hispanic) finished quality of life (QOL), functioning, and depressive symptom severity measures at entry and exit.

Results

• They reported that Hispanic members had significantly worse QOL scores at entry and exit (p < 0.01).
• There was no difference between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients’ QOL at exit (p = .21) after controlling for baseline QOL.
• In addition, there were no significant between-group differences at entry or at exit for depressive symptom severity or functioning.
• Findings revealed that both groups had significant improvements in depressive symptom severity, QOL, and functioning from entry to exit (all p values < 0.01).
• It was noted that patients with private insurance had lower depressive symptom severity, greater QOL, and better functioning at exit compared to patients without private insurance.