The severity of depression in patients treated in general practice.

The severity of depression, the presence and intensity of suicidal feelings, and the outcome of depressive illness treated in general practice were studied. The results suggest that a consideration of the relatively good outcome at 16 to 18 weeks alone is misleading. At least one in six new patients is suffering from a depression of moderately severe intensity and a similar proportion experience suicidal ideas that are persistent and require active rejection. A sample of patients with chronic depression had only a slightly smaller morbidity. The presence of moderately severe symptoms of depression in both groups of patients has important implications for treatment.