OBJECTIVE: Prognostic studies of major depression have mainly focused on episode remission and relapse, and only a limited number of studies have examined long-term course of depressive symptomatology at threshold and subthreshold levels. METHOD: The Group for Longitudinal Affective Disorders Study has conducted prospective serial assessments of a cohort of heretofore untreated major depressive episodes for 10 years under naturalistic conditions. RESULTS: Of the 94 patients in the cohort, the follow-up rate was 70% of the 11,280 person-months. Around 77% of the follow-up months were spent in euthymia, 16% in subthreshold depression and 7% in major depression. Duration of the index episode before reaching recovery was the only significant predictor of the ensuing well time. CONCLUSION: On average, patients with major depression starting treatment today may expect to spend three quarters of the next decade in euthymia but the remaining one quarter in subthreshold or threshold depression.
OBJECTIVE: Prognostic studies of major depression have mainly focused on episode remission and relapse, and only a limited number of studies have examined long-term course of depressive symptomatology at threshold and subthreshold levels. METHOD: The Group for Longitudinal Affective Disorders Study has conducted prospective serial assessments of a cohort of heretofore untreated major depressive episodes for 10 years under naturalistic conditions. RESULTS: Of the 94 patients in the cohort, the follow-up rate was 70% of the 11,280 person-months. Around 77% of the follow-up months were spent in euthymia, 16% in subthreshold depression and 7% in major depression. Duration of the index episode before reaching recovery was the only significant predictor of the ensuing well time. CONCLUSION: On average, patients with major depression starting treatment today may expect to spend three quarters of the next decade in euthymia but the remaining one quarter in subthreshold or threshold depression.
Authors: Claudi Bockting; Amanda M Legemaat; Johanne G J van der Stappen; Gert J Geurtsen; Maria Semkovska; Huibert Burger; Isidoor O Bergfeld; Nicoline Lous; Damiaan A J P Denys; Marlies Brouwer Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-06-23 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Peter A Coventry; Joanna L Hudson; Evangelos Kontopantelis; Janine Archer; David A Richards; Simon Gilbody; Karina Lovell; Chris Dickens; Linda Gask; Waquas Waheed; Peter Bower Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-09-29 Impact factor: 3.240