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Course trajectories of unipolar depressive disorders identified by latent class growth analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2011

D. Rhebergen ,
F. Lamers ,
J. Spijker ,
R. de Graaf ,
A. T. F. Beekman  and
B. W. J. H. Penninx
D. Rhebergen*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
F. Lamers
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
J. Spijker
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands De Gelderse Roos, Arnhem, The Netherlands
R. de Graaf
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands
A. T. F. Beekman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
B. W. J. H. Penninx
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr D. Rhebergen, Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, A.J. Ernststraat 887, 1081 HL Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Current classification of unipolar depression reflects the idea that prognosis is essential. However, do DSM categories of major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymic disorder (Dysth) and double depression (DD=MDD+Dysth) indeed adequately represent clinically relevant course trajectories of unipolar depression? Our aim was to test DSM categories (MDD, Dysth and DD) in comparison with empirically derived prognostic categories, using a prospectively followed cohort of depressed patients.

Method

A large sample (n=804) of out-patients with unipolar depression were derived from a prospective cohort study, the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). Using latent class growth analysis (LCGA), empirically derived 2-year course trajectories were constructed. These were compared with DSM diagnoses and a wider set of putative predictors for class membership.

Results

Five course trajectories were identified, ranging from mild severity and rapid remission to high severity and chronic course trajectory. Contrary to expectations, more than 50% of Dysth and DD were allocated to classes with favorable course trajectories, suggesting that current DSM categories do not adequately represent course trajectories. The class with the most favorable course trajectory differed on several characteristics from other classes (younger age, more females, less childhood adversity, less somatic illnesses, lower neuroticism, higher extraversion). Older age, earlier age of onset and lower extraversion predicted poorest course trajectory.

Conclusions

MDD, Dysth and DD did not adequately match empirically derived course trajectories for unipolar depression. For the future classification of unipolar depression, it may be wise to retain the larger, heterogeneous category of unipolar depression, adopting cross-cutting dimensions of severity and duration to further characterize patients.

Keywords

Coursedepressive disorderslatent class growth analysis
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 42 , Issue 7 , July 2012 , pp. 1383 - 1396
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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