Background
Valid, reliable biomarkers of depression severity and treatment response would provide
new targets for clinical research. Noticeable differences in speech production between
depressed and nondepressed patients have been suggested as a potential biomarker.
Methods
One hundred five adults with major depression were recruited into a 4-week, randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled research methodology study. An exploratory objective
of the study was to evaluate the generalizability and repeatability of prior study
results indicating vocal acoustic properties in speech may serve as biomarkers for
depression severity and response to treatment. Speech samples, collected at baseline
and study end point using an automated telephone system, were analyzed as a function
of clinician-rated and patient-reported measures of depression severity and treatment
response.
Results
Regression models of speech pattern changes associated with clinical outcomes in a
prior study were found to be reliable and significant predictors of outcome in the
current study, despite differences in the methodological design and implementation
of the two studies. Results of the current study replicate and support findings from
the prior study. Clinical changes in depressive symptoms among patients responding
to the treatments provided also reflected significant differences in speech production
patterns. Depressed patients who did not improve clinically showed smaller vocal acoustic
changes and/or changes that were directionally opposite to treatment responders.
Conclusions
This study supports the feasibility and validity of obtaining clinically important,
biologically based vocal acoustic measures of depression severity and treatment response
using an automated telephone system.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 30, 2012
Accepted:
March 16,
2012
Received in revised form:
February 13,
2012
Received:
September 21,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
