title: Does incomplete recovery from first lifetime major depressive episode herald a chronic course of illness?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the influence of incomplete recovery from first lifetime major depressive episodes on long-term outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  After their first lifetime major depressive episode, patients were divided into asymptomatic (N=70) and residual subthreshold depressive symptom (N=26) recovery groups and compared on longitudinal course during up to 12 years of prospective naturalistic follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with residual subthreshold depressive symptoms during recovery had significantly more severe and chronic future courses. Those with residual symptoms relapsed to major and minor depressive episodes faster and had more recurrences, shorter well intervals, and fewer symptom-free weeks during follow-up than asymptomatic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resolution of major depressive episodes with residual subthreshold depressive symptoms, even the first lifetime episode, appears to be the first step of a more severe, relapsing, and chronic future course. When ongoing subthreshold symptoms continue after major depressive episodes, the illness is still active, and continued treatment is strongly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0603, USA. ljudd@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Judd
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Paulus
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schettler
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Akiskal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Endicott
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Maser
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents