Yuan Feng1,2,3, Sha Sha1,2,3, Chen Hu1,2,3, Gang Wang1,2,3, Gabor S Ungvari4,5, Helen F K Chiu6, Chee H Ng7, Tian-Mei Si8, Da-Fang Chen9, Yi-Ru Fang10, Zheng Lu11, Hai-Chen Yang12, Jian Hu13, Zhi-Yu Chen14, Yi Huang15, Jing Sun16, Xiao-Ping Wang17, Hui-Chun Li18, Jin-Bei Zhang19, Yu-Tao Xiang20. 1. Mood Disorders Center, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 2. China Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing, China. 3. Center of Depression, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China. 4. The University of Notre Dame Australia / Marian Centre, Perth, Australia. 5. School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. 6. Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. 7. Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 8. Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Mental Health & Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China. 9. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China. 10. Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 11. Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Medical School, Shanghai, China. 12. Division of Mood Disorders, Shenzhen Mental Health Centre, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. 13. The First Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. 14. Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. 15. West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. 16. The Affiliated Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. 17. Mental Health Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China. 18. The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. 19. The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. 20. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Little has been reported about the demographic and clinical features of major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid dysthymia in Chinese patients. This study examined the frequency of comorbid dysthymia in Chinese MDD patients together with the demographic and clinical correlates and prescribing patterns of psychotropic drugs. METHODS: Consecutively collected sample of 1178 patients with MDD were examined in 13 major psychiatric hospitals in China. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and psychotropic drugs prescriptions were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. The diagnosis of dysthymia was established using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Medications ascertained included antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and mood stabilizers. RESULTS: One hundred and three (8.7%) patients fulfilled criteria for dysthymia. In multiple logistic regression analyses, compared to non-dysthymia counterparts, MDD patients with dysthymia had more depressive episodes with atypical features including increased appetite, sleep, and weight gain, more frequent lifetime depressive episodes, and less likelihood of family history of psychiatric disorders. There was no significant difference in the pattern of psychotropic prescription between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: There are important differences in the demographic and clinical features of comorbid dysthymia in Chinese MDD patients compared with previous reports. The clinical profile found in this study has implications for treatment decisions.
INTRODUCTION: Little has been reported about the demographic and clinical features of major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid dysthymia in Chinese patients. This study examined the frequency of comorbid dysthymia in Chinese MDDpatients together with the demographic and clinical correlates and prescribing patterns of psychotropic drugs. METHODS: Consecutively collected sample of 1178 patients with MDD were examined in 13 major psychiatric hospitals in China. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and psychotropic drugs prescriptions were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. The diagnosis of dysthymia was established using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Medications ascertained included antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and mood stabilizers. RESULTS: One hundred and three (8.7%) patients fulfilled criteria for dysthymia. In multiple logistic regression analyses, compared to non-dysthymia counterparts, MDDpatients with dysthymia had more depressive episodes with atypical features including increased appetite, sleep, and weight gain, more frequent lifetime depressive episodes, and less likelihood of family history of psychiatric disorders. There was no significant difference in the pattern of psychotropic prescription between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: There are important differences in the demographic and clinical features of comorbid dysthymia in Chinese MDDpatients compared with previous reports. The clinical profile found in this study has implications for treatment decisions.