title: The incidence and prevalence of admissions for melancholia in two cohorts (1875-1924 and 1995-2005).
abstract: METHODS
  There have been recent proposals to have melancholia reinstated in classification systems as a disorder distinct from major depressive disorder. Data from two epidemiologically complete cohorts of patients presenting to mental health services in North Wales between 1875-1924 and 1995-2005 have been used to map the features of melancholia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data point to a decline in the contemporary incidence of hospital admissions for depressive psychosis, and greater heterogeneity among hospitalized severe non-psychotic depressions today. They indicate that historically untreated episodes of "melancholia" had a sudden onset, an average duration of less than 6 months and a lesser likelihood of relapse than severe depressive disorders have today.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a study of the hospitalized illness rather than the natural illness and the relationship between illness and being hospitalized remains at present poorly understood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These are the first data on the comparative incidence and natural history of melancholia in historical and contemporary samples. They point to the distinctiveness of the condition and support arguments for its separation from other mood disorders.
authors: North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine, Hergest Unit, Bangor, Wales, UK.
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Harris
authors: Fiona
authors: F
authors: Farquhar
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Healy
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Le Noury
authors: Darren
authors: D
authors: Baker
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Whitaker
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Linden
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Green
authors: Anthony P
authors: AP
authors: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology