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.
D000367:Age Factors; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012737:Sex Factors