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Positive Life Change and Recovery from Depression and Anxiety

A Three-Stage Longitudinal Study of Primary Care Attenders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

A. S. Leenstra ,
J. Ormel  and
R. Giel
A. S. Leenstra
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychiatry
J. Ormel*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychiatry and Department of Health Sciences
R. Giel
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychiatry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
*
Dr Ormel, Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
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Abstract

Background

The objective was to examine the relationship between positive life change (PLC) and recovery from depression and anxiety. Following Brown et al (1988, 1992), we hypothesised: (a) that an excess of PLC would be found in the 3-month period before recovery compared with base rates (‘excess hypothesis’) and (b) that fresh-start and anchoring subtypes of PLC would trigger recovery from depression and anxiety respectively (‘specificity hypothesis’).

Method

One hundred and seventy primary care patients with a depressive and/or anxiety disorder, selected from 1994 consecutive attenders, were assessed at baseline and at 1-year and 3.5-year follow-ups on life change (LEDS) and psychopathology (PSE and Course Interview).

Results

Our results appeared to confirm the excess hypothesis regarding depression and anxiety (twofold excess was found prior to recovery), but not regarding mixed anxiety/depression. They did not support the specificity hypothesis.

Conclusions

PLC facilitates recovery but is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for remission. Difficulty reduction is the most important recovery-enhancing factor.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 166 , Issue 3 , March 1995 , pp. 333 - 343
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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