Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2022 Nov;20(4):662-674. 10.9758/cpn.2022.20.4.662.

Interactive Effects of Serum Leptin Levels and Physical Comorbidity on the Pharmacotherapeutic Response of Depressive Disorders

• Choi W
• Kim JW
• Kang HJ
• Kim HK
• Kang HC
• Lee JY
• Kim SW
• Stewart R
• Kim JM

• KMID: 2536476
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2022.20.4.662

Abstract

Objective
To investigate individual and interactive associations of baseline serum leptin levels and physical comorbidity with short- and long-term treatment outcomes in outpatients with depressive disorders who received stepwise antidepressant treatment in a naturalistic prospective study design.
Methods
Baseline serum leptin levels were measured, and the number of concurrent physical disorders ascertained from 1,094 patients. These patients received initial antidepressant monotherapy; then, for patients with an insufficient response or who experienced uncomfortable side effects, treatment was administered using alternative strategies every 3 weeks in the acute treatment phase (at 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks) and every 3 months in the continuation treatment phase (at 6, 9, and 12 months). Then, 12-week and 12-month remission, defined as a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of ≤7, was estimated.
Results
In multivariable logistic regression analyses, individual effects were found only between higher baseline serum leptin levels and 12-week non-remission. Significant interactive effects between higher leptin levels and fewer physical disorders (＜ 2 physical disorders) on 12-week non-remission were observed. However, neither individual nor interactive effects between leptin levels and physical comorbidity were associated with 12-month remission.
Conclusion
The combination of serum leptin level and number of physical disorders may be a useful predictor of short-term treatment responses in patients with depressive disorders receiving pharmacotherapy.

Keyword

Depression; Treatment outcome; Leptin; Comorbidity; Antidepressant