Statistical analyses
depressive, Week-24):, depressive symptoms
DTS
The analysis of variance of repeated measures (ANOVArm) was used to compare mean differences longitudinally. By default, rmANOVA makes the following assumptions: a) for each group, the dependent variable is normally distributed; b) the covariate and the experiment effect are independent; c) the sphericity assumption is satisfied. Sphericity indicates that the repeated measures’ differences’ variances are all equal. The confidence interval for the mean difference was calculated with post hoc tests. The magnitude of the observed effect is shown. The effect size is calculated using Cohen’s For the mediation analysis, the only request was that the DTS F1/F2, considered an independent variable (IV), occur before the DTS F1/F2 mediation variable and, consequently, before the depressive symptoms measured by the HAMD, MADRS, and BDI-II, considered a dependent variable (VD). We conducted all analyses using the four assessment moments described: First assessment (Week-): baseline occurred approximately 1 week before patients initiated antidepressant treatment. The HAM-D, MADRS, DTS and BDI-II were administered to measure the presence and severity of symptoms and depressive thoughts. Second assessment (Week-4) occurred approximately 4 weeks after patients initiated antidepressant treatment. As in time 1, HAM-D, MADRS, DTS and BDI-II were administered to measure the presence and severity of symptoms and depressive thoughts. Third assessment (Week-12): occurred approximately 3 months after the beginning of antidepressant treatment. The same scales were applied. Forth assessment (Week-24): occurred approximately 6 months after the antidepressant treatment, and the same scales were applied.