title: Summary of the DSM-IV mood disorders field trial and issue overview.
abstract: The DSM-IV Mood Disorders Field Trial addressed several issues concerning the relationship among major depression, dysthymia, recurrent brief depression, minor depression, and depressive personality disorder. The Mood Disorders Field Trial is a naturalistic, multisite study that investigated the diagnostic criteria for dysthymia, the reliability and validity of longitudinal course modifiers, the nosology of minor and recurrent brief depression, and the relationship between depressive personality disorder and dysthymia. Research on the nosology of chronic depressive disorders will, it is hoped, contribute to a better understanding of pathophysiology, etiology, and treatment. This article presents findings from the Field Trial as well as brief reviews of the other nine articles in this issue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hanks
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016896:Treatment Outcome