Self-rated residual symptoms do not predict 1-year recurrence of depression.
BACKGROUND
Residual depressive symptoms are generally documented as a risk factor for recurrence. In the absence of a specific instrument for the assessment of residual symptoms, a new 25-item Depression Residual Symptom Scale (DRSS) was elaborated and tested for recurrence prediction over a 1-year follow-up.


METHODS
Fifty-nine patients in remission after a major depressive episode (MDE) were recruited in two centres. They were assessed with the DRSS and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at inclusion and followed for 1 year according to a seminaturalistic design. The DRSS included specific depressive symptoms and subjective symptoms of vulnerability, lack of return to usual self and premorbid level of functioning.


RESULTS
Severity of residual symptoms was not significantly associated with increased risk of recurrence. However, DRSS score was significantly higher among patients with three or more episodes than one to two episodes. Number of previous episodes and treatment interruption were not identified as significant predictors of recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
The proposed instrument is not predictive of depressive recurrence, but is sensitive to increased perception of vulnerability associated with consecutive episodes. Limitations include small sample size, seminaturalistic design (no standardisation of treatment) and content of the instrument.
Bertschy
G
G
Division of adult psychiatry, Department of psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, 2, chemin du Petit-Bel-Air, 1225 Chêne-Bourg, Geneva, Switzerland. gilles.bertschy@hcuge.ch
Haffen
E
E
Gervasoni
N
N
Gex-Fabry
M
M
Osiek
C
C
Marra
D
D
Aubry
J-M
JM
Bondolfi
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult