Psycho-social predictors of chronicity in depressed patients.
Nineteen patients with an episode of major depressive disorder who did not recover within two years of prospective follow-up were compared with an equal number who recovered within a year of the initial evaluation and remained well through the two-year follow-up date. The groups were individually matched for age, sex, primary/secondary status, and prior duration of episode. The only psycho-social variable that predicted chronicity was increased neuroticism on self-report personality inventories administered during the index evaluation. Early loss, recent life events, and recent social supports were not predictive of outcome.
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support