title: Maintenance pharmacotherapy for recurrent major depressive disorder: 5-year follow-up study.
abstract: Practice guidelines endorse maintenance antidepressant treatment for recurrent major depressive disorder. In the Vantaa Depression Study, we followed 218 psychiatric patients with major depressive disorder for up to 5 years with a life-chart. Of these patients, 86 (39.4%) had more than three lifetime episodes and an indication for maintenance pharmacotherapy. However, of these, only 57% received treatment and only for 16% of the time indicated. Good adherence to pharmacotherapy in the acute phase independently predicted maintenance treatment. The tertiary preventive impact of maintenance treatment may remain limited, as many patients with major depressive disorder either do not receive it, or receive it for too short a period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Irina A K
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Holma
authors.forename: K Mikael
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Holma
authors.forename: Tarja K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Melartin
authors.forename: Erkki T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Isometsä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents