Six month follow-up of early-onset chronic depression.
BACKGROUND
This study sought to characterize the morbidity and treatment behavior of 49 patients with early-onset chronic depression, 6 months after terminating treatment at a university-based psychopharmacology research clinic.


METHODS
Patients with and without early-onset chronic depression were selected to participate in a naturalistic follow-up study. Assessments were conducted blind to patients' histories. Patients' depressive symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and post-discharge treatment histories were assessed.


RESULTS
After termination, the mean length of recovery for the sample was 3.6 months. When they left the clinic, 78% (38/49) were euthymic. At follow-up, 37% (14/38) of these had relapsed; while 45% (17/38) remained in remission for 6 months. During the follow-up period, 47% of the patients were on antidepressants. Sixty-three percent of the patients who relapsed, or were depressed when they left the clinic, did not enter treatment, 50% of whom cited insufficient resources as the primary reason for not receiving care.


CONCLUSIONS
After leaving a depression research clinic, a substantial portion of patients with early-onset chronic depression remained recovered during a 6-month period, but financial impediments prevented a majority of those who did poorly from entering treatment.
Agosti
V
V
New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY, USA.
Stewart
J W
JW
D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020280:Sertraline; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D005473:Fluoxetine; D007099:Imipramine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline