Background Although depression is a highly prevalent condition that occurs in all ethnic groups, the influence of ethnicity on treatment response still remains unclear. Methods A prospective 8-week, open-label clinical trial comparing the efficacy and side-effects of citalopram (CIT) with dose escalation (20–60 mg/day) was performed in African-Americans and Caucasians with non-psychotic major depression. The intent-to-treat sample consisted of 301 participants (169 African Americans and 132 Caucasians). Results Although African-Americans were more socially disadvantaged and had a more severe depression, outcomes between the groups were similar. Remission rates were approximately 50% in both groups and about 2/3 of participants met response criteria. Retention was greater than 75% in both groups, with no differences in drop-out rate. There also were no differences in the number of completers, number of visits made, final dose of CIT, or in side effect profiles. Conclusions These results confirm the growing body of evidence, including recent studies using measurement-based care, that patients from minority groups have outcomes that are similar to those of Caucasians. The provision of measurement-based care and encouragement of patient participation can reduce ethnic differences in response to treatment for depression.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of chronic stress, social undermining, and social support with symptom reduction and remission in depressed patients treated with antidepressant medication (citalopram), and to determine whether these relationships were moderated by ethnicity. A sample of 301 treatment-seeking adult patients with non-psychotic depression, including 169 African-American and 132 Caucasian men and women, were enrolled in an eight week, dose escalation clinical trial. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that, consistent with expectations, more baseline social support was associated with greater symptom reduction and higher likelihood of remission, especially at higher levels of social undermining. Additionally, increases in social support from baseline to last visit were associated with more symptom reduction and higher likelihood of remission. However, contrary to expectations, higher levels of baseline social undermining were associated with more symptom reduction in Caucasians, but not in African-Americans. Results supported the treatment enhancing effect of available social support at the beginning of treatment and over the course of treatment. Efforts to enhance social support for patients on antidepressants should be considered as part of comprehensive treatment.

The present study examined the relationship between religiosity/spirituality and treatment response to antidepressant medication (citalopram). One-hundred and forty-eight Caucasian and African-American adults with uncomplicated major depression were treated with citalopram (20–60mg/day) over an 8-week period in a prospective multi-site clinical trial. Treatment response was assessed weekly with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Religiosity (i.e., religious behaviours) and spirituality (i.e., spiritual well-being) were assessed at Week 3. No significant associations between spirituality and treatment response were found; however, there was a strong curvilinear relationship between religiosity and treatment response. Compared to lower or higher levels of religiosity, a moderate level of religiosity was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of remission and greater reduction in severity of depression. This association was independent of social support, ethnicity, gender, education, and baseline depression severity. A moderate amount of religiosity appears to be independently associated with an enhanced treatment response to citalopram.