Treatmentdependent

Treatment-dependent is a descriptor used in medical and scientific literature to indicate that a property of a disease, patient group, or outcome is contingent on the treatment used. It is not a standalone diagnosis but describes response or prognosis that varies with intervention. In databases and studies, treatment-dependent endpoints refer to outcomes defined with respect to a particular therapy.

In research, treatment-dependent often appears when analyzing heterogeneity of treatment effects, acknowledging that average effect sizes may not apply uniformly. Studies may report treatment-dependent subgroups whose outcomes differ by therapy, dose, duration, or combination regimens. The term also frames interpretation of observational data where confounding by indication may influence apparent effects.

Examples include oncology, where tumor response and survival depend on chosen regimens; autoimmune diseases, where remission rates vary with different biologics or immunosuppressants; infectious diseases, with cure rates contingent on antibiotic regimens; and psychiatry, where antidepressant response is treatment-dependent. The concept also appears in rehabilitation and palliative care when functional outcomes depend on rehabilitative strategies or symptom management.

Implications for practice include careful trial design with stratification and randomization, clear definition of treatment arms, and transparent reporting of treatment-dependent outcomes. For patients and clinicians, the term highlights that prognosis and management plans must consider the specific therapies being applied.