title: Clinical Significance of the Number of Depressive Symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder: Results from the CRESCEND Study.
abstract: Our study aimed to establish the relationship between the number of depressive symptoms and the clinical characteristics of major depressive disorder (MDD). This would enable us to predict the clinical significance of the number of depressive symptoms in MDD patients. Using data from the Clinical Research Center for Depression (CRESCEND) study in Korea, 853 patients with DSM-IV MDD were recruited. The baseline and clinical characteristics of groups with different numbers of depressive symptoms were compared using the χ(2) test for discrete variables and covariance (ANCOVA) for continuous variables. In addition, the scores of these groups on the measurement tools were compared by ANCOVA after adjusting the potential effects of confounding variables. After adjusting the effects of monthly income and history of depression, a larger number of depressive symptoms indicated higher overall severity of depression (F [4, 756] = 21.458, P < 0.001) and higher levels of depressive symptoms (F [4, 767] = 19.145, P < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (F [4, 765] = 12.890, P < 0.001) and suicidal ideation (F [4, 653] = 6.970, P < 0.001). It also indicated lower levels of social function (F [4, 760] = 13.343, P < 0.001), and quality of life (F [4, 656] = 11.975, P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in alcohol consumption (F [4, 656] = 11.975, P < 0.001). The number of depressive symptoms can be used as an index of greater illness burden in clinical psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea .
authors.forename: Seon-Cheol
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3691-4624
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea .
authors.forename: Jeongkyu
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2187-0403
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sakong
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yeungnam University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea .
authors.forename: Bon Hoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9633-3835
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea .
authors.forename: Jae-Min
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7409-6306
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Tae-Youn
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9516-0768
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Min-Soo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3483-4375
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea .
authors.forename: Jung-Bum
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9444-1437
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Hyeon-Woo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3646-8161
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Korea .
authors.forename: Yong Chon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3019-5748
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety; D003863:Depression; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Anxiety Symptoms; Depressive Symptoms; Major Depressive Disorder (MDD); Number; Suicidal Ideation