The present study investigates characteristics of those who appeared versus those who did not appear for a baseline assessment in the Netherland Study of Depression and Anxiety. In NESDA 2850 persons are included in a 8 year follow up study on the course of anxiety and depression disorders. Within the NESDA screening data are collected on demographics, physical and mental conditions of potential participants. At the end of the screening it is registered whether the person meets the inclusion criteria and is willing to participate in NESDA. Within the inclusion procedures for the Nesda study about 30% of the persons who passed the screening and initially agreed to participate in the baseline assessment did not show up for the interview. Because of the large numbers of persons screened the NESDA study has enough statistical power to investigate differences between characteristics of shows and no shows.

We will use data from the inclusion phase basic demographics as sex, age, current employment status, and education and data on physical and mental functioning collected with questions from the CIDI interview will act as determinants. We will answer the following two questions.

1. 1 To describe the characteristics of patients who initially agreed to participate in the Nesda study but failed to show up at the actual research assessment appointment.

2. 2 To compare these characteristics with the patients who initially agreed to participate and did show up and thus investigate which variables are associated with not showing up in spite of initial consent to participate.