Predictors of Quality of Life Improvement with Escitalopram and Adjunctive Aripiprazole in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A CAN-BIND Study Report

BackgroundNon-response to first-line treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) is common; for such individuals, quality of life (QoL) impairments can be severe. Identifying predictors of QoL changes may support the management of cases with persistent depressive symptoms despite adequate initial pharmacological/psychological treatment.ObjectiveThe present study aimed to explore predictors of domain-specific QoL improvement following adjunctive aripiprazole treatment for inadequate response to initial antidepressant therapy.MethodsWe evaluated secondary QoL outcomes from a CAN-BIND (Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression) study in patients with MDD who did not respond to an initial 8 weeks of escitalopram and received a further 8 weeks of adjunctive aripiprazole (n = 96). Physical, psychological, social, and environmental QoL domains were assessed using the World Health Organization QoL Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). Clinician-rated depressive symptoms were assessed using the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Functioning was measured with the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Satisfaction with medication was assessed with a single item from the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF). Exploratory t-tests were used to describe domain score changes. A hierarchical linear regression was used to explore demographic, clinical, and treatment-related predictors of improvement.ResultsAcross domains, QoL improved with adjunctive aripiprazole treatment. Satisfaction with medication and MADRS and SDS scores similarly improved. Symptom reduction was a predictor for positive change to physical and psychological QoL; functioning improvements were predictive of increases to all QoL domains. Satisfaction with medication predicted improvements to physical and psychological domains, whereas number of medication trials was a predictor of worsening QoL in the physical domain.ConclusionThe final model explained the most variance in psychological (68%) and physical (67%) QoL. Less variance was explained for environmental (43%) and social QoL (33%), highlighting a need for further exploration of predictors in these domains. Strategies such as functional remediation may have potential to support QoL for individuals with persistent depressive symptoms.Clinical Trials RegistryClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT016557.