Chronicity in major depression. A naturalistic prospective study.

In a prospective naturalistic study many of the 120 patients treated for a current major depressive episode continued to meet the criteria for a major depressive episode as defined by DSM-III during the whole follow-up period (from 1 to 4 years). The problem of compatibility between the chronicity of a full depressive syndrome and the definition of the major depression as episodic with possible relapses or recurrences is discussed. A relationship between chronicity and lack of adequate treatment at onset was found.