STAR*D Treatment Steps: Remission Rates Drop from 37% to 13% with Each Attempt
How Do Depression Treatment Success Rates Change with Each Failed Attempt?
The landmark STAR*D trial of 3,671 adult outpatients with major depressive disorder reveals a sobering pattern: remission rates decline dramatically with each treatment step, from 37% in step 1 to 31% in step 2, 14% in step 3, and just 13% in step 4. Published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, this comprehensive analysis shows that while some patients achieve remission at each step, the likelihood of success decreases substantially as treatment resistance becomes apparent.