Residual symptoms and social functioning over six-months in recovered outpatients with chronic depression.
BACKGROUND
Scant data exists regarding the global mental health of recovered chronically depressed outpatients. The purpose of this study was to compare the symptoms and functioning of these patients to those found in a normal control group (NCG).


METHODS
Social functioning was assessed by the Social Adjustment Scale interview. Symptoms were measured with the Symptom Check List-90.


RESULTS
The overall social functioning of recovered females was more impaired than a NCG. Recovered males and females had more psychiatric symptoms than a NCG.


CONCLUSIONS
The two samples were not demographically similar.


CONCLUSIONS
Though the differences in social functioning and symptoms between the recovered patients and NCG's were statistically significant, they were not clinically meaningful. In general, recovered females had a relatively robust level of mental health.
Agosti
V
V
Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D013997:Time Factors