Abstract
Background:
In major depressive disorder (MDD), only ~35% achieve remission after first-line antidepressant therapy. Using UK Biobank data, we identify sociodemographic, clinical, and genetic predictors of antidepressant response through self-reported outcomes, aiming to inform personalized treatment strategies.
Methods:
In UK Biobank Mental Health Questionnaire 2, participants with MDD reported whether specific antidepressants helped them. We tested whether retrospective lifetime response to four selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (N=19,516)-citalopram (N=8,335), fluoxetine (N=8,476), paroxetine (N=2,297) and sertraline (N=5,883)- was associated with sociodemographic (e.g., age, gender) and clinical factors (e.g., episode duration). Genetic analyses evaluated the association between CYP2C19 variation and self-reported response, while polygenic score (PGS) analysis assessed whether genetic predisposition to psychiatric disorders and antidepressant response predicted self-reported SSRI outcomes.
Results:
71%-77% of participants reported positive responses to SSRIs. Non-response was significantly associated with alcohol and illicit drug use (OR=1.59, p=2.23x10-20), male gender (OR=1.25, p=8.29x10-08), and lower income (OR=1.35, p=4.22x10-07). A worst episode lasting over two years (OR=1.93, p=3.87x10-16) and no mood improvement from positive events (OR=1.35, p=2.37x10-07) were also associated with non-response. CYP2C19 poor metabolizers had nominally higher non-response rates (OR=1.31, p=1.77x10-02). Higher PGS for depression (OR=1.08, p=3.37x10-05) predicted negative SSRI outcomes after multiple testing correction.
Conclusions:
Self-reported antidepressant response in the UK Biobank is influenced by sociodemographic, clinical, and genetic factors, mirroring clinical response measures. While positive outcomes are more frequent than remission reported in clinical trials, these self-reports replicate known treatment associations, suggesting they capture meaningful aspects of antidepressant effectiveness from the patient's perspective.
In major depressive disorder (MDD), only ~35% achieve remission after first-line antidepressant therapy. Using UK Biobank data, we identify sociodemographic, clinical, and genetic predictors of antidepressant response through self-reported outcomes, aiming to inform personalized treatment strategies.
Methods:
In UK Biobank Mental Health Questionnaire 2, participants with MDD reported whether specific antidepressants helped them. We tested whether retrospective lifetime response to four selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (N=19,516)-citalopram (N=8,335), fluoxetine (N=8,476), paroxetine (N=2,297) and sertraline (N=5,883)- was associated with sociodemographic (e.g., age, gender) and clinical factors (e.g., episode duration). Genetic analyses evaluated the association between CYP2C19 variation and self-reported response, while polygenic score (PGS) analysis assessed whether genetic predisposition to psychiatric disorders and antidepressant response predicted self-reported SSRI outcomes.
Results:
71%-77% of participants reported positive responses to SSRIs. Non-response was significantly associated with alcohol and illicit drug use (OR=1.59, p=2.23x10-20), male gender (OR=1.25, p=8.29x10-08), and lower income (OR=1.35, p=4.22x10-07). A worst episode lasting over two years (OR=1.93, p=3.87x10-16) and no mood improvement from positive events (OR=1.35, p=2.37x10-07) were also associated with non-response. CYP2C19 poor metabolizers had nominally higher non-response rates (OR=1.31, p=1.77x10-02). Higher PGS for depression (OR=1.08, p=3.37x10-05) predicted negative SSRI outcomes after multiple testing correction.
Conclusions:
Self-reported antidepressant response in the UK Biobank is influenced by sociodemographic, clinical, and genetic factors, mirroring clinical response measures. While positive outcomes are more frequent than remission reported in clinical trials, these self-reports replicate known treatment associations, suggesting they capture meaningful aspects of antidepressant effectiveness from the patient's perspective.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Psychological Medicine |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 12 Mar 2025 |
Keywords
- Antidepressant response
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Major depressive disorder (MDD)
- Polygenic scores
- CYP2C19 metabolizer status