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Residual symptoms after partial remission: an important outcome in depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

E. S. Paykel ,
R. Ramana ,
Z. Cooper ,
H. Hayhurst ,
J. Kerr  and
A. Barocka
E. S. Paykel*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
R. Ramana
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
Z. Cooper
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
H. Hayhurst
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
J. Kerr
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
A. Barocka
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
*
1Address for correspondence: Professor E. S. Paykel, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ.
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Synopsis

This paper draws attention to an important adverse outcome in depression, the occurrence of residual symptoms after partial remission. Among patients with definite major depression followed every 3 months to remission and thereafter, residual symptoms reaching 8 or more on the Hamilton Depression Scale 17-item total were present in 32% (19) of the 60 who remitted below major depression by 15 months. The pattern was of mild but typical depressive symptoms. Residual symptoms were more common in subjects with more severe initial illness, but were not related to any other predictors, including longer prior illness, dysthymia, or lower dose of drug treatment during the illness episode. There were weak associations with personality that might have been consequences of symptom presence. Residual symptoms were very strong predictors of subsequent early relapse, which occurred in 76% (13/17) of those with residual symptoms and 25% (10/40) of those without.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 25 , Issue 6 , November 1995 , pp. 1171 - 1180
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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References

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