title: Residual symptoms at remission from depression: impact on long-term outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although residual symptoms after remission from depression are common and predict early relapse, little is known about the impact of residual symptoms on longer-term clinical course of depression or social functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty severe recurrent depressives, who remitted from an index episode of depression with residual symptoms or below residual symptomatology, were followed-up at 8-10 years. Subjects underwent detailed longitudinal interviewing on course of depression, treatment and socioecomonic functioning over follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Long-term follow-up data was obtained on all living subjects and 55 (95%) were interviewed. The residual symptoms group spent more time with depressive symptoms over follow-up but not at full criteria for major depression and showed greater impairment in longitudinal and follow-up social adjustment. No significant differences were found between the two groups in percentage recurring long-term, mean number of recurrences, readmissions, chronic episodes or clinical global outcome criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term clinical and social outcomes were assessed by a single retrospective longitudinal interview.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who remit from depression with residual symptomatology continue to have more depressive symptoms and impaired social functioning long-term and may need more aggressive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. n.kennedy@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Paykel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D013997:Time Factors