Recovery from depression: risk or reality?

Depression is a serious condition associated with a high rate of recurrence in all populations of depressed patients. Research studies in the past have focused more on the criteria for onset of depressive disorder than on consistent criteria for outcome. However, the issue of concern to the patient is whether their depression is a lifelong condition or a condition from which they can reasonably expect to make a complete recovery. The issues surrounding recovery from depression are reviewed in the following article. The lifetime prognosis of depression is examined with reference to the Zürich follow-up study, and outcome criteria and the importance of assessing recovery in terms of quality of life as well as symptomatic improvement are considered. The relevance of clinical trial results to the clinical management of depression is also addressed.