title: Multi-dimensional criteria for the diagnosis of depression.
abstract: The chief goal of the present study is to examine the validity of a dimensional approach to the classification of depressive disorders. Each of the the major diagnostic criteria for depression including symptoms, duration and frequency is examined with respect to a series of clinical validators. The sample is comprised of a cohort of 591 individuals from the total population of 18-19 year olds in Zurich, Switzerland who were followed for a period of 15 years. The results revealed that: (1) depression may be better represented on a continuum than as a discrete category; (2) there is a direct relationship between the number of symptoms of depression, the frequency and the duration of depressive episodes and indicators of validity of depression; and (3) in addition to the number of symptoms of depression, a combination of frequency and duration criteria enhance the validity of the classification of depression.
authors.affiliation: Zurich University Psychiatric Hospital, Lenggstrasse 31, P.O. Box 68, 8029, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Angst
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Merikangas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data