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Predicting Improvement in Patients with Non-Endogenous Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Gordon Parker ,
Chris Tennant  and
Ilse Blignault
Gordon Parker*
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick 2031, Australia
Chris Tennant
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
Ilse Blignault
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales
*
∗Correspondence
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Summary

Forty-three patients with non-endogenous depressive disorders were assessed shortly after psychiatric referral, and reassessed at six and at 20 weeks. The pattern of improvement appeared to be set shortly after the initial consultation, but could be most clearly predicted by the degree of improvement at the end of the third week. Key baseline factors predicting a more marked improvement at each follow-up were a more severe depression, the break-up of an intimate relationship, and the presence of weight loss. Positive life events occuring after the initial assessment predicted improvement at six and at 20 weeks, while the presence of a neutralising event (which negated an earlier threatening life event) predicted improvement at 20 weeks.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 146 , Issue 2 , February 1985 , pp. 132 - 139
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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