Among patients with mental diseases there is heterogeneity in terms of clinical response to psychopharmacological interventions, but relatively few studies are focused on the individual factors associated with better or poorer outcomes. The concept of biological age has been receiving an increasing amount of attention in mental health. Among the indicators of biological age, the Frailty Index (FI), which quantifies functional negative health attributes and measures their cumulative effect, has recently emerged in neuropsychiatric research as a reliable and comprehensive measure. Considering the above, and considering that the identification of predictors of treatment response is considered a key element of personalized medicine, the objective of the present study is to explore whether FI, a comprehensive measure of biological age and functional status, is a predictor of treatment outcome for patients with psychiatric diseases
Significance of the proposal
1. This is the first study performed so far aimed at assessing FI as a predictor of outcome in the psychopharmacological treatment of patients with psychiatric diseases; subsequently, the results will provide novel information in the field of psychiatric treatment.
2. This study is naturalistic in nature, i.e. it involves the implementation of treatment according to standard clinical routine; subsequently, the results will provide information close to the ¿real world¿ of clinical practice.
3. The study is designed in order to be feasible in clinical settings and does not include complex procedures which are difficult to implement in daily practice.
4. The results of the study are easily transferrable to clinical practice.
5. Improving the knowledge about determinants of treatment outcomes could lead to improvements in the quality of care and to reduced costs.
6. The study adds to the accumulating evidence indicating biological age and functional status as relevant factors not only for physical health but also for mental health.