Severe mental illness in depression.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to evaluate the outcome from in-patient treatment in major depressive disorders (MDD) and its impact on the patients' 1 year outcome under the present routine care conditions.


METHODS
The reported data stem from a multicentric follow-up study on the course and outcome of patients with MDD. Patients enrolled in the study had their first or multiple psychiatric hospitalization and fulfilled the ICD-10 criteria for a depressive disorder. During in-patient treatment patients were standardized assessed in 2-weekly intervals, with yearly follow-up evaluations after discharge.


RESULTS
The analyses revealed that the elimination of depressive symptoms and a return to premorbid levels of functioning is a rarity in the in-patient treatment of MDD. Moreover, the analyses revealed that the achieved level of response during in-patient treatment clearly determines the patients state 1 year after discharge from in-patient treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering that persisting depressive symptoms are associated with a range of unfavourable outcomes, the present data point to a serious problem in the treatment of MDD and the urgent need to further optimize antidepressive treatment strategies.
Möller
H-J
HJ
Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
Bottlender
R
R
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092864:Suicide Prevention