The British Journal of Psychiatry 129: 252-260 (1976)
© 1976 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Help-seeking in depressed out-patients following maintenance therapy

MM Weissman and SV Kasl

This paper reports on the clinical status, help-seeking and subsequent treatment experiences of 150 women one year after they had completed out-patient maintenance treatment by amitriptyline and/or psychotherapy for a depressive episode. While the majority of patients were asymptomatic at follow-up, a substantial minority had a return of acute symptoms and 2 per cent made minor suicide attempts during the year. Admission to hospital was rare. However, only 30 per cent of the patients did not seek any treatment during the year and the majority received some psychotropic medication. The findings support the long- term need for prompt access to treatment by patients who have recovered from an acute depression.