BACKGROUND: Psychiatric patients have the right to strive for well-being and not only be confined to symptom reduction. Studies are needed to assess global well-being during recovery from depression by comparing the assessments of patients and clinicians. METHOD: A 6-year natural follow-up of 185 depressive out-patients was carried out with health questionnaires at baseline, 0.5, 1, 2 and 6 years, including scales on depression (BDI, HDRS), general psychopathology (SCL), functional capacity (GAF, SOFAS) and life satisfaction (LS). A structured diagnostic interview was carried out at baseline, 2 and 6 years. Complete follow-up data were obtained from 121 patients. RESULTS: In general, depressive patients mainly attained a normal mood, adequate functional capacity and life satisfaction. Those with a slow recovery improved with successive treatment contacts, eventually reaching levels of mental health not significantly different from the others. Throughout the follow-up, recovery was similarly shown with the self-reported BDI-21, SCL-90 and LS-4, while intercorrelations between clinician ratings were low at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate mental health and global well-being can be reached among depressive patients, but it may take time in treatment. Subjective assessments are reliable. The 4-item life satisfaction scale is a global well-being indicator and a valid treatment outcome measure.
BACKGROUND:Psychiatricpatients have the right to strive for well-being and not only be confined to symptom reduction. Studies are needed to assess global well-being during recovery from depression by comparing the assessments of patients and clinicians. METHOD: A 6-year natural follow-up of 185 depressive out-patients was carried out with health questionnaires at baseline, 0.5, 1, 2 and 6 years, including scales on depression (BDI, HDRS), general psychopathology (SCL), functional capacity (GAF, SOFAS) and life satisfaction (LS). A structured diagnostic interview was carried out at baseline, 2 and 6 years. Complete follow-up data were obtained from 121 patients. RESULTS: In general, depressivepatients mainly attained a normal mood, adequate functional capacity and life satisfaction. Those with a slow recovery improved with successive treatment contacts, eventually reaching levels of mental health not significantly different from the others. Throughout the follow-up, recovery was similarly shown with the self-reported BDI-21, SCL-90 and LS-4, while intercorrelations between clinician ratings were low at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate mental health and global well-being can be reached among depressivepatients, but it may take time in treatment. Subjective assessments are reliable. The 4-item life satisfaction scale is a global well-being indicator and a valid treatment outcome measure.
Authors: Robert D Goldney; Laura J Fisher; Eleonora Dal Grande; Anne W Taylor Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2004-04 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen; Jaakko Kaprio; Risto J Honkanen; Heimo Viinamäki; Markku Koskenvuo Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2005-01-18 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: H Koivumaa-Honkanen; T Rissanen; J Hintikka; K Honkalampi; K Haatainen; Saharinen Tarja; H Viinamäki Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2010-04-30 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Antoni Serrano-Blanco; Diego J Palao; Juan V Luciano; Alejandra Pinto-Meza; Leila Luján; Ana Fernández; Pere Roura; Jordan Bertsch; Mercè Mercader; Josep M Haro Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2009-05-19 Impact factor: 4.328