L’étude observationnelle européenne Factors Influencing Depression Endpoints Research (FINDER) avait pour objectifs d’évaluer la qualité de vie, la dépression, l’anxiété et la douleur chez des patients traités par antidépresseurs. En France, 606 patients ont été inclus dans cette étude par des médecins généralistes et des psychiatres au moment de l’initiation d’un traitement antidépresseur pour un épisode dépressif et ont été suivis pendant six mois. Ces patients étaient âgés de 45,6 (±13,0) ans, 69 % étaient des femmes, 39 % avaient eu un épisode précédent au cours des deux années passées, 51 % avaient des douleurs modérées à sévères (échelle visuelle analogique [EVA] supérieure à 30mm). Au cours du suivi, les patients français ont amélioré leur qualité de vie (SF-36 score physique et psychique, EQ-5D EVA et index) et leurs symptômes d’anxiété et de dépression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]). L’intensité globale de la douleur (EVA) s’est améliorée chez les patients ayant une douleur modérée à sévère à l’inclusion.

To describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pain, clinical outcomes and treatment patterns in French patients with depression treated by general practitioners and psychiatrists.

Factors Influencing Depression Endpoints Research (FINDER) is a European longitudinal observational, naturalistic, multicentre study to determine the HRQoL (SF-36 and EQ-5D) and to assess outcomes of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]), and pain (VAS) in a population of depressed patients initiating antidepressant treatment. Clinical diagnosis of depression was based on physician’s clinical judgment. Physicians decided at their own discretion and clinical practice to initiate pharmacological treatment for depression. Adult patients with a first or new episode of depression were enrolled between May 2004 and September 2005, and followed up for 6 months. Across Europe, 437 physicians observed 3468 patients.

In France, 606 patients (approximately 17% of the whole sample) were enrolled by 57 psychiatrists and 46 general practitioners. These patients were (mean±SD) 45.6±13.0 years old, 69% female and 39% having had a previous depressive episode in the last 2 years. According to the patient-rated HADS score greater or equal to 11, most patients (75%) were classified as cases of depression as well as cases of anxiety (84%); 51% of patients rated their overall pain severity (based on VAS cut-off of 30mm) as moderate/severe, with 65% of these patients reporting no medical explanation for their pain. The majority (81%) of the patients were prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). During the 6-month follow-up, the majority of the patients (73%) remained on the same antidepressant at the same dose during the course of treatment. Between baseline and 6-month endpoint, French patients improved their mean scores (SD) on the SF-36 physical score by+3.5 (9.0) (P<0.001) and mental score by+20.6 (14.2) (P<0.001); on the EQ-5D Health State Index by+0.37 (0.32) (P<0.001) and the EQ-5D VAS by+32.3 (25.0) (P<0.001); on the HADS depression score by–8.1 (6.0) (P<0.001) and HADS anxiety score by–6.9 (5.0) (P<0.001). Patients with moderate/severe pain at baseline improved their overall pain on a mean VAS score by–34.1 (28.7) (P<0.001).

More than half of the French patients enrolled in the study experienced pain associated with depression. During follow-up, patients improved all of their outcome measurements (physical and mental SF-36 scores, depression and anxiety HADS scores, pain VAS, EQ-5D Health State Index and VAS) and most patients remained on the same antidepressant at the same dose.