TY - JOUR
T1 - Sensory profiles in unipolar and bipolar affective disorders
T2 - Possible predictors of response to antidepressant medications? A prospective follow-up study
AU - Engel-Yeger, Batya
AU - Bloch, Boaz
AU - Gonda, Xenia
AU - Canepa, Giovanna
AU - Pompili, Maurizio
AU - Sher, Leo
AU - Rihmer, Zoltan
AU - Amore, Mario
AU - Serafini, Gianluca
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018
PY - 2018/11
Y1 - 2018/11
N2 - Introduction: Sensory processing patterns have been proposed as a stable dimension able to characterize individuals with major affective disorders, but to what extent specific impairments in sensory processing may be involved in the pathophysiology of these conditions is poorly understood. We aimed to explore which sensory profiles may better respond to psychoactive medications, with particular regard to antidepressants, according to depression, alexithymia, and hopelessness levels. Methods: A total of 402 outpatients who received maintenance treatment and were in stable psychopathological conditions were recruited and completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), second version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) according to a longitudinal prospective study design including three time points of measurements. Results: Subjects with abnormally reduced sensory seeking, hypersensitivity, enhanced sensory avoidance, and lower ability to register information better responded to antidepressant medications according to their reduced depression levels. Similarly, participants with lower registration better responded to antidepressants as reported by lower hopelessness levels. Regression analyses revealed that the use of antidepressants was the first variable able to predict depression, hopelessness, and alexithymia levels at baseline, and after three and six months of treatment, respectively, but the pattern of sensory sensitivity contribute to the prediction of depression and hopelessness. This pattern together with low registration predicted changes in alexithymia levels. Limitations: The study was limited by the modest sample size at the follow-up assessment points. Discussion: Exploring sensory processing patterns may provide intriguing insights into specific illness characteristics and treatment response.
AB - Introduction: Sensory processing patterns have been proposed as a stable dimension able to characterize individuals with major affective disorders, but to what extent specific impairments in sensory processing may be involved in the pathophysiology of these conditions is poorly understood. We aimed to explore which sensory profiles may better respond to psychoactive medications, with particular regard to antidepressants, according to depression, alexithymia, and hopelessness levels. Methods: A total of 402 outpatients who received maintenance treatment and were in stable psychopathological conditions were recruited and completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), second version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) according to a longitudinal prospective study design including three time points of measurements. Results: Subjects with abnormally reduced sensory seeking, hypersensitivity, enhanced sensory avoidance, and lower ability to register information better responded to antidepressant medications according to their reduced depression levels. Similarly, participants with lower registration better responded to antidepressants as reported by lower hopelessness levels. Regression analyses revealed that the use of antidepressants was the first variable able to predict depression, hopelessness, and alexithymia levels at baseline, and after three and six months of treatment, respectively, but the pattern of sensory sensitivity contribute to the prediction of depression and hopelessness. This pattern together with low registration predicted changes in alexithymia levels. Limitations: The study was limited by the modest sample size at the follow-up assessment points. Discussion: Exploring sensory processing patterns may provide intriguing insights into specific illness characteristics and treatment response.
KW - Alexithymia
KW - Antidepressant response
KW - Depression
KW - Hopelessness
KW - Sensory processing patterns
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050876893&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2018.07.032
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2018.07.032
M3 - Article
C2 - 30081295
AN - SCOPUS:85050876893
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 240
SP - 237
EP - 246
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
ER -