Early subjective reactions predicting the outcome of hospital treatment in depressive patients.

Early statements by 41 depressive inpatients about a subjective change in their condition and about their attitude to proposed treatment were examined. These statements, made on the day after admission, were found to correlate with the outcome of the treatment. It was found that early subjective reactions can indicate to some extent, not only the result of hospital treatment for depressive symptoms, but also the outcome measured by objective and subjective criteria, after a 3 to 4 month follow-up.