Predictors of relapse in major depressive disorder.
Risk of relapse into an affective episode was high in the months immediately after recovery from a major depressive disorder (MDD) in 141 subjects with nonbipolar depression, without a preexisting dysthymic disorder. The probability of relapse then declined steadily during the duration of the follow-up (median follow-up, 62 weeks from recovery). In patients entering the study during their first affective episode, the Research Diagnostic Criteria secondary subtype of MDD and an older age of onset predicted a significantly greater likelihood of relapse. Three or more prior episodes of depression predicted a significantly shorter time to the first and second prospectively observed relapses and, thus, a significantly greater likelihood of subsequent multiple affective episodes.
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors