The persistent risk of chronicity in recurrent episodes of nonbipolar major depressive disorder: a prospective follow-up.
The authors report on the course of illness in 101 patients who were in an episode (the "index episode") of major depressive disorder when they entered a clinical research study, recovered from that episode, and then relapsed into a new episode (the "first prospective episode") of the disorder. They found a 22% probability that these patients' first prospective episode would last at least 1 year, similar to the 21% rate of chronicity previously reported for the index episode. A long prior episode, older age, and low family income were found to predict chronicity in the first prospective episode.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents