title: Predictors of depressive symptoms at hospital discharge in patients with major depressive disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Often patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) leave the hospital with continued significant symptomatology. This study sought to evaluate demographic, clinical, and psychosocial predictors of the presence of clinically significant depressive symptoms, defined as a Modified Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score of ≥ 14, immediately following hospitalization for MDD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study enrolled 135 patients with MDD as part of a larger clinical trial investigating the efficacy of post-hospitalization pharmacologic and psychosocial treatments for depressed inpatients. Structured clinical interview and self-report data were available from 126 patients at hospital admission and discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite the significant decreases in depressive symptoms over the course of hospitalization, 91 (72%) displayed clinically significant depressive symptoms at discharge. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex, earlier age of onset, and poorer social adjustment were unique predictors of symptom outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that a large proportion of patients leave the hospital with continued significant symptomatology, and the presence of such symptoms following hospitalization for MDD is likely to be explained by a combination of factors.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA. mwedig@mclean.harvard.edu
authors: Michelle M
authors: MM
authors: Wedig
authors: Lauren M
authors: LM
authors: Weinstock
authors: Gary
authors: G
authors: Epstein-Lubow
authors: Ivan W
authors: IW
authors: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012917:Social Adjustment; D063189:Symptom Assessment