What fraction of patients with depression do not respond to initial pharmacologic treatment with antidepressants?

A. About 1/10
B. About 1/4
C. About 1/2
D. About 3/4
E. About 1/3



Answer :

To determine the fraction of patients with depression who do not respond to the initial pharmacologic treatment with antidepressants, let's analyze the data regarding treatment efficacy.

Generally, research indicates that a significant proportion of patients do not respond to the first line of antidepressant medication. This non-response rate is commonly described in medical literature and studies.

Given the options:
1. About 1/10
2. About 1/4
3. About 1/2
4. About 3/4
5. About 1/3

Let's evaluate these in detail:

- About 1/10: This fraction signifies that only 10% of patients do not respond. This number is relatively small and not consistent with known statistics.
- About 1/4: This fraction indicates that 25% of patients do not respond. Although slightly feasible, it is still lower than what most studies suggest.
- About 1/2: This fraction denotes that 50% of patients do not respond. While higher, it's more than the typical percentage found in studies.
- About 3/4: This fraction would mean that 75% of patients do not respond, which is quite high and also not generally supported by research.
- About 1/3: This fraction signifies that approximately 33.33% of patients do not respond. This rate aligns closely with findings from numerous studies that suggest around one-third of patients do not find relief from first-time antidepressant treatment.

Based on this analysis and the statistical data usually referenced in mental health treatment research, the best answer to the fraction of patients with depression who do not respond to initial pharmacologic treatment with antidepressants is:

[tex]\[ \boxed{\text{About 1/3}} \][/tex]