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Methodological issues raised by clinical trials on dysthymia: assessment instruments and response criteria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

J.D. Guelfi  and
E Corruble
J.D. Guelfi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Paul Brousse Hospital, 12-14 Avenue P Vaillant-Couturier94804Villejuif cedex, France
E Corruble
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Paul Brousse Hospital, 12-14 Avenue P Vaillant-Couturier94804Villejuif cedex, France
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Summary

Dysthymia clinical trials raise several methodological issues. The validity of the concept remains a matter of concern, as does the need for specific instruments, the difficulties in assessment of change and long-term assessments. Diagnostic criteria for inclusion should be used in a polydiagnostic approach. This paper summarises the main assessment tools and diagnostic criteria used in clinical trials on dysthymia. Severity criterion for inclusion could be a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score (HAMD-17) between 13 and 17. The main response criteria should be a decrease of at least 50% of the total score on this scale and a final score under a predetermined limit. However, other response criteria may be useful: depression self-ratings, global assessments, general psychopathology assessments, personality and defense mechanisms, quality of life, psychosocial and functional impairment, diagnostic criteria (presence or absence) and side-effect assessment.

Keywords

dysthymiaassessment toolsdiagnostic criteriaclinical trials
Type
Research Article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 12 , Issue 4 , 1997 , pp. 183 - 189
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier, Paris 1997

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