Date C van der Veen1, Bernice Gulpers2, Willeke van Zelst3, Sebastian Köhler4, Hannie C Comijs5, Robert A Schoevers3, Richard C Oude Voshaar3. 1. Department of Psychiatry (DCVDV, WVZ, RAS, RCOV), University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Interdisciplinary Center of Psychopathology of Emotion regulation (ICPE), Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: d.c.van.der.veen@umcg.nl. 2. Regional Institute for Mental Health Care in Outpatients, RIAGG Maastricht (BG), Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Psychology/MUMC, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS)/Alzheimer Centre Limburg (BG), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Psychiatry (DCVDV, WVZ, RAS, RCOV), University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Interdisciplinary Center of Psychopathology of Emotion regulation (ICPE), Groningen, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience and Alzheimer Centre Limburg (SK), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Psychiatry (HCC), Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, GGZ inGeest/VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Studies on the course of depression often ignore comorbid anxiety disorders or anxiety symptoms. We explored predictors of complete remission (no depression nor anxiety diagnoses at follow-up) and of the course of comorbid anxiety symptoms. We additionally tested the hypothesis that the course of anxiety disorders and symptoms in depressed patients is explained by negative life-events in the presence of high neuroticism or a low sense of mastery. METHODS: An observational study of 270 patients (≥60 years) diagnosed with major depressive disorder and 2-year follow-up data, who participated in the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older persons (NESDO). Sociodemographic, somatic, psychiatric, and treatment variables were first explored as possible predictors. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine their predictive value concerning complete remission. Subsequently, negative life-events, personality and their interaction were tested as potential predictors. Linear Mixed Models were used to assess whether the personality traits modified the effect of early and recent life-events, and time and their interactions on the course of the anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 135 of 270 patients achieved complete remission. Depressed patients with a comorbid anxiety disorder at baseline less often achieved complete remission: 38 of 103 (37.0%) versus 97 of 167 (58.1%). The severity of depressive and anxiety symptomatology, the presence of a comorbid anxiety disorder, and a poorer physical health at baseline predicted nonremission. In line with our hypothesis, a less favorable course of self-reported anxiety symptoms was associated with more recent negative life-events, but only among patients with a high level of neuroticism or a low level of mastery. CONCLUSION: Comorbid anxiety in depression as a negative impact on complete remission at 2-year follow-up. The course of anxiety severity seems dependent on the interaction of personality traits and life-events.
OBJECTIVE: Studies on the course of depression often ignore comorbid anxiety disorders or anxiety symptoms. We explored predictors of complete remission (no depression nor anxiety diagnoses at follow-up) and of the course of comorbid anxiety symptoms. We additionally tested the hypothesis that the course of anxiety disorders and symptoms in depressedpatients is explained by negative life-events in the presence of high neuroticism or a low sense of mastery. METHODS: An observational study of 270 patients (≥60 years) diagnosed with major depressive disorder and 2-year follow-up data, who participated in the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older persons (NESDO). Sociodemographic, somatic, psychiatric, and treatment variables were first explored as possible predictors. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine their predictive value concerning complete remission. Subsequently, negative life-events, personality and their interaction were tested as potential predictors. Linear Mixed Models were used to assess whether the personality traits modified the effect of early and recent life-events, and time and their interactions on the course of the anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 135 of 270 patients achieved complete remission. Depressedpatients with a comorbid anxiety disorder at baseline less often achieved complete remission: 38 of 103 (37.0%) versus 97 of 167 (58.1%). The severity of depressive and anxiety symptomatology, the presence of a comorbid anxiety disorder, and a poorer physical health at baseline predicted nonremission. In line with our hypothesis, a less favorable course of self-reported anxiety symptoms was associated with more recent negative life-events, but only among patients with a high level of neuroticism or a low level of mastery. CONCLUSION: Comorbid anxiety in depression as a negative impact on complete remission at 2-year follow-up. The course of anxiety severity seems dependent on the interaction of personality traits and life-events.