The distinction of primary and secondary affective disorders. Clinical implications.
We studied a sample of 26 primary depressives and 18 secondary depressives for a number of demographic, family history, and clinical variables and prospectively followed them over one hospitalisation to assess short-term differences in outcome. The Hamilton rating scale for depression and the Zung self-rating depression scale were administered at admission and discharge. While both groups received similar treatments, the primary depressives exhibited a statistically significantly greater degree of recovery than the secondary depressives as measured by these scales. The secondary depressives had more prior suicide attempts (if psychiatrically or medically non-serious attempts are included), a longer duration of current episode of depression and a higher proportion of relatives with alcoholism than the primary depressives.
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People