Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Aaron Mendelsohn

Abstract

Current interventional pharmaceutical therapies targeted for depression are not adequate to achieve sufficient remission following treatment. Researchers explored inflammatory biomarkers as a way of understanding why treatment for depression is effective for some and not others. The purpose of this secondary data analysis study was to determine if there was a relationship between inflammatory biomarkers and treatment efficacy in persons diagnosed with depression who have demonstrated a previous lack of remission. Using the immune-cytokine paradigm of depression (POD) allowed depression to be viewed as multifaceted and a potential signal of chronic immune system activation. This secondary data analysis included findings from a clinical trial called, 'A Study of the Efficacy and Safety of CP-601,927 Augmentation of Antidepressant Therapy in Major Depression' ANOVA and linear regression were used to analyze 1 dependent variable: depression remission. The 5 independent variables included adiponectin C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), leptin, interleukin 1-β (IL1-β), interleukin 6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα). The 3 mediating variables included age, race, and gender. According to the results of the study, IL6 significantly correlated with and predicted remission outcome, as measured by change in MADRS total score from baseline. None of the other biomarkers significantly correlated with remission outcome. Better remission outcomes for patients suffering from depression would lead to positive social change and improved quality of life.

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