The aim of the study was to compare a clinical course and treatment results of depression occurring as the first depressive episode, the second depressive episode or the third or further depressive episode. The study was 1-year, prospective, naturalistic observation made by Polish psychiatrists.

One-hundred and seventy-nine patients with the first depressive episode (group I), 170 patients with the second episode (group II) and 183 patients with the third or further episode of depression (group III) were compared. The main analysed variable was remission, defined as the score of ≤7 points on 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS), after 6 and 12 months of observation.

The groups of patients studied did not initially differ as to age, proportion of gender and intensity of depression. The percentages of remission after 6 months of observation in groups I.III were: 49%, 41% and 32%, and after 12 months 69%, 60% and 50%, respectively.

The results obtained indicate that the course of subsequent depressive episodes is less favourable compared to the first depressive episode. The percentages of remission obtained in individual groups studied may have implications regarding duration of pharmacological treatment of depressive episode.