Does Culture Influence Antidepressant Response? A Preliminary Investigation of Randomized Controlled Trials of Fluoxetine

Background Contemporary models of depression view the disorder as arising from an interaction between genetic vulnerability and adverse life experiences. The nature of these experiences is strongly influenced by social-cultural factors, and there is preliminary evidence that these factors may influence the response to treatment. Methods In this pilot study, pooled response rates obtained from 56 randomized controlled trials of fluoxetine for major depression, conducted across 21 countries, were analyzed in relation to Hofstede’s six dimensions of culture in these countries, while controlling for methodological quality. Results The cultural dimensions of power distance (r = .62, p = .002), masculinity (r = .45, p = .04) and indulgence (r = -.52, p = .016) were significantly correlated with antidepressant response rates, though only the first of these remained significant after correction for multiple comparisons. On linear regression analysis, the association between power distance and antidepressant response remained significant (β = .62, p = .002). Conclusions These preliminary results suggest that certain cultural factors may be significantly associated with cross-national variations in antidepressant response rates during clinical trials.