Comparison of the efficacy and safety of bupropion versus aripiprazole augmentation in adults with treatment-resistant depression: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Background: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) affects 10-30% of patients with major depressive disorder, leading to increased comorbidities, higher mortality, and significant economic and social burdens. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of bupropion and aripiprazole as augmentation therapies for TRD.

Methods: This population-based, retrospective cohort study included adults aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of depressive disorder who met the criteria for TRD. Data were collected from a nationwide claims database in South Korea. Patients prescribed bupropion were matched 1:1 with those prescribed aripiprazole. Subgroup analyses were performed according to age. An as-treated analysis was performed as the primary analysis, and an intention-to-treat analysis was performed to identify different risk windows. The primary outcome was depression-related hospitalization, and the secondary outcomes were first-time diagnoses of movement disorder and seizure.

Results: A total of 5,619 patients (bupropion: n = 1,568; aripiprazole: n = 4,051) were included in this study. Bupropion was associated with lower risks of hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-0.86) and movement disorders (HR: 0.56; 95% CI 0.36-0.85) than aripiprazole. No significant difference in seizure risk (HR: 0.65; 95% CI 0.30-1.31) was observed between the two treatments. The subgroup analysis of participants aged ≥60 years revealed no significant differences in the three outcomes between the two medications.

Conclusions: Bupropion augmentation is associated with a significantly lower risk of depression-related re-hospitalization and movement disorders in patients with TRD. Therefore, bupropion augmentation can be a comprehensive treatment strategy for TRD.