| Abstract: |
This article reports on a study that assessed depression markers (symptoms and antidepressant medicine use) in Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) participants and determined whether changes in depression markers during the course of the study were associated with treatment arm, weight change, physical activity level, or participant demographic characteristics. The DPP participants (n = 3,187) were in one of three treatment arms: intensive lifestyle, metformin, and placebo. On study entry, 10.3 percent of participants had Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores greater than 11, which was used as the threshold for mild depression; 5.7 percent took antidepressant medicines, and 0.9 percent had both depression markers (BDI score over 11 and antidepressant medications). During the DPP, the proportion of participants with elevated BDI scores declined, while the proportion taking antidepressant medicines increased, leaving the proportion with either marker unchanged. These time trends were not significantly associated with the DPP treatment arm. Men were less likely to have elevated depression scores and were less likely to use antidepressant medicine at baseline. Those with more education were less likely to have elevated symptoms scores but more likely to be taking antidepressant medicine. Non-Hispanic white participants were less likely than African Americans to have BDI scores greater than 11, but white participants were most likely to be taking antidepressant medicine than any other racial/ethnic group. The authors conclude that the finding that those taking antidepressant medicine often do not have elevated depression symptoms indicates the value of assessing both markers when estimating overall depression rates. 2 figures. 2 tables. 44 references. |