HAM-D17 and HAM-D6 Sensitivity to Change in Relation to Desvenlafaxine Dose and Baseline Depression Severity in Major Depressive Disorder

Introduction This retrospective analysis compared sensitivity to change on the 17-item and 6-item Hamilton rating scales for depression (HAM-D-17 and HAM-D-6, respectively) in relation to antidepressant dose and baseline depression severity Methods Data were derived from 6 randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week trials of fixed-dose desvenlafaxine (50, 100 200 or 400 mg/d) for major depressive disorder HAM-D-17 and HAM-D-6 effect sizes were assessed Results HAM-D-17 effect sizes were negative (favoured placebo) for higher desvenlafaxine doses (200-400 mg/d) at week 1 but were positive for all doses after week 2, with no clear dose-response pattern However, HAM-D-6 effect sizes were positive for all doses at all weeks Effect sizes were consistently greater for HAM-D-6 vs HAM-D-17, regardless of time spent under therapy Effect sizes were greater for HAM-D-6 vs HAM-D-17 for all desvenlafaxine doses among patients with baseline HAM-D-17 <25 but not among patients with baseline HAM-D-17 >= 25 Discussion The HAM-D-6 demonstrated greater sensitivity to change and robustness than the HAM-D-17, supporting the greater homogeneity of the HAM-D-6