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Long term outcome of primary care depression

Yiend, Jenny, Paykel, Eugene, Merritt, Rowena K., Lester, Kathryn, Doll, Helen, Burns, Tom (2009) Long term outcome of primary care depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 118 (1-3). pp. 79-86. ISSN 0165-0327. (doi:10.1016/j.jad.2009.01.026) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:35536)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2009.01.026

Abstract

We conducted a follow up over 23 years of depressed patients originally presenting to general practice in 1981 and studied in detail at that time. Aims were to assess the long term course and outcome of depression in primary care. Patterns of recovery and recurrence of major depressive episodes, together with other aspects of course, treatment and current state, were assessed at interview. 78% (129) of the original sample were traced to current general practice and outcome data obtained on 54. One third had a prior history of depression. Interview data were obtained on 37 patients. Time to recovery from baseline averaged 10.3 months. The recurrence rate was 64% (23). Most participants suffered at least 2 further episodes that were frequently chronic lasting 2 years on average. Time before first recurrence appeared considerably longer than in comparable psychiatric inpatient samples. No participants were continuously ill. Although loss to follow up limits our conclusions, the course of primary care depression appears worse than suggested by previous, shorter follow ups. Our data suggest that long term risk of a recurrence may be high, but with recurrence delayed.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.jad.2009.01.026
Uncontrolled keywords: Depression; Primary care; Recurrence; Follow-up; Course; Recovery
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA790 Mental health
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Tony Rees
Date Deposited: 18 Oct 2013 15:34 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:12 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/35536 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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