Effects of race and ethnicity on depression treatment outcomes: The CO-MED trial

Abstract

Objective: The investigators examined whether outcomes differ by race-ethnicity for patients with major depressive disorder in acute- (12 weeks) and continuation-phase (weeks 12-28) treatment with one of two antidepressant combinations or one selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Methods: This single-blind, seven-month prospective, randomized trial enrolled 352 non-Hispanic white (59%), 169 black (28%), and 79 white Hispanic (13%) participants from six primary and nine psychiatric care U.S. sites. Patients had nonpsychotic chronic or recurrent major depressive disorder (or both) of at least moderate severity. Escitalopram plus placebo, bupropion sustained-release plus escitalopram, or venlafaxine extended-release plus mirtazapine were delivered according to measurementbased care. The primary outcome was remission (last two consecutive 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self- Report ratings