The British Journal of Psychiatry 131: 587-591 (1977)
© 1977 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
A study of predictive factors in depressive disorders of poor outcome
BK Toone and M Ron
A retrospective comparison was made between two groups, each consisting of
30 depressed patients, one in which the outcome following discharge had
been good, the other where it had been poor. A previous psychiatric
history, earlier admission for psychiatric illness, particularly for
affective disorders and a poorer performance on routine intelligence tests
were found in the poor prognosis group. In this group the duration of the
index admission was longer and the condition of the patient was less
improved at the time of discharge. Several symptom variables also
discriminated between the groups. These findings are discussed.