Depression and physical health, the therapeutic alliance and antidepressants

In a two-year study we compared the efficacy of noradrenergic (duloxetine D) and serotonergic (escitalopram E) antidepressants with and without the addition of 100 mg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in subjects suffering from a major depressive episode (MDE). The results showed that the D + ASA (DASA) group improved more rapidly than the E + placebo (EP) subgroup. In particular, Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) scores improved as early as two months, Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores improved at five months, and remission rates were better. In the course of this study, we also investigated the role of the therapeutic relationship (alliance) on both the progress of the MDE, and patients' mental and physical health.

40 people suffering from an MDE were randomly assigned to treatment groups. At the beginning of the study sociodemographic data were collected, and the Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAQ) was completed. During the study, patients were regularly assessed using the HDS, CGI and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).

Subgroup comparisons revealed that HAQ scores are not correlated with HAD scores, but a correlation was found with remission rates (r=0.316*). Similarly, at all times, HAQ scores were correlated with physical health (p<0.05), which is in turn correlated with HDS and CGI scores.

Physical health is linked to the level of depression. While the alliance with the patient is not directly correlated with the intensity of depression, is it correlated with their physical condition and its improvement. For patients, improving their physical health appears to be more important than improving their mental health. These observations must be confirmed.