Prediction of therapeutic response in acute treatment with antidepressants. Results of an empirical study involving 159 endogenous depressive inpatients.

A study was carried out involving 159 endogenous depressive inpatients treated with antidepressants. Using standardized rating instruments, a large set of potential predictor variables was tested. After cross-validation according to the split-half technique, only very few of these proved to be suitable as predictors for the main outcome criteria. These predictors included premorbid maladjustment, neurotic traits of premorbid personality, intensity of depressive-apathetic symptoms at admission, and the self-evaluated mood assessment score 3 weeks after commencement of treatment. This last criterion demonstrated the highest predictive value. Several predictors known from the literature could not be reproduced in this study.