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A three‐year follow‐up of major depression, dysthymia, minor depression and subsyndromal depression: results from a population‐based study
Author(s) -
Forsell Yvonne
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.20231
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , dysthymic disorder , psychology , psychiatry , population , major depressive disorder , depressive symptoms , clinical psychology , medicine , cognition , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract This study examined the 3‐year outcome of major depression (MD)/dysthymic disorder (DD), minor depression (MinD), and subsyndromal symptomatic depression (SSD) in a population‐based sample. The aims were to study the fluctuating nature of the symptoms of depression and to analyze the risk of fulfilling the criteria for MD/DD at the follow‐up. An extensive questionnaire was sent out to persons ages 20–64 years registered in Stockholm County. Depression was assessed with the Major Depression Inventory. After 3 years the procedure was repeated, and 8,622 persons participated in both waves. Diagnoses of MD/DD, MinD, or SSD were made. Highest 3‐year stability in fulfilling the criteria for a specific depressive category was found in MD/DD, and of those affected, only 35.9% had one or fewer symptoms of depression at the 3‐year follow‐up. The frequency of those with one or fewer symptom of depression was equal in MinD (58.9%) and in SSD (56.5%). The relative risk (RR) of fulfilling the criteria for MD/DD at Wave 2 was highest for those affected by MD/DD (RR=22.4) at Wave 1, whereas those fulfilling the criteria for MinD or SSD had similar rates (RR=4.8 and 5.0, respectively). This study supports the view that depression is a dimensional illness, with the affected persons moving in and out of diagnostic subtypes. The 3‐year prognosis was severe in half of the affected persons in all three diagnostic depression categories. Depression and Anxiety 24:62–65, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.