© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Duration of major depressive episodes in the general population: results from The Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS)
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht and De Galderse Roos, Institute for Mental Health Care, Arnhem
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht
Research and Documentation Center of the Ministry of Justice, The Hague
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht and Department of Psychiatry, University of Amsterdam
Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen
University Medical Centre, Utrecht and Altrecht Institute for Mental Health Care, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Correspondence: Jan Spijker, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (Trimbos Institute), PO Box 725, 3500 AS Utrecht, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 302971100; fax: +31 302971111; e-mail: JSpijker{at}trimbos.nl
Declaration of interest The study was supported by The Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Medical Sciences Department of The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research and the National Institute for Public Health and Environment.
See editorial, pp.
181–183, this issue.
Background Data on the duration of major depressive episodes (MDE) in the general population are sparse.
Aims To assess the duration of MDE and its clinical and socio-demographic determinants in a study group drawn from the general population with newly originated episodes of major depression.
Method The Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study is a prospective epidemiological survey in the adult population (n=7076), using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Duration of MDE over 2 years was assessed with a Life Chart Interview.
Results The median duration of MDE was 3.0 months; 50% of participants recovered within 3 months, 63% within 6 months, 76% within 12 months and nearly 20% had not recovered at 24 months. Determinants of persistence were severity of depression and comorbid dysthymia. A recurrent episode predicted shorter duration.
Conclusions Although half of those affected with MDE recovered rapidly, the risk of chronicity (duration 24 months or more) was considerable. This underlines the necessity of diagnosing and treating those at risk.
Related articles in BJP:
- Highlights of this issue
- ELIZABETH WALSH
BJP 2002 181: 0.[Full Text] - Global burden of depressive disorders: the issue of duration
- T. BEDIRHAN ÜSTÜN and RON C. KESSLER
BJP 2002 181: 181-183.[Full Text]
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  E Licht-Strunk, H W J Van Marwijk, T Hoekstra, J W R Twisk, M De Haan, and A T F Beekman Outcome of depression in later life in primary care: longitudinal cohort study with three years' follow-up BMJ, February 2, 2009; 338(feb02_1): a3079 - a3079. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. S. Young, R. Klap, R. Shoai, and K. B. Wells Persistent Depression and Anxiety in the United States: Prevalence and Quality of Care Psychiatr Serv, December 1, 2008; 59(12): 1391 - 1398. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Taylor Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies for depression: the evidence base Adv. Psychiatr. Treat., November 1, 2008; 14(6): 401 - 413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. W. Eaton, H. Shao, G. Nestadt, B. H. Lee, O. J. Bienvenu, and P. Zandi Population-Based Study of First Onset and Chronicity in Major Depressive Disorder Arch Gen Psychiatry, May 1, 2008; 65(5): 513 - 520. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Licht-Strunk, D. A. van der Windt, H. W. van Marwijk, M. de Haan, and A. T. Beekman The prognosis of depression in older patients in general practice and the community. A systematic review Fam. Pract., April 1, 2007; 24(2): 168 - 180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. I. Kaptein, P. de Jonge, R. H. S. van den Brink, and J. Korf Course of Depressive Symptoms After Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Prognosis: A Latent Class Analysis Psychosom Med, September 1, 2006; 68(5): 662 - 668. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Y. van der Werf, K. I. Kaptein, P. de Jonge, J. Spijker, R. de Graaf, and J. Korf Major Depressive Episodes and Random Mood. Arch Gen Psychiatry, May 1, 2006; 63(5): 509 - 518. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. G. Edwards Newer v. older antidepressants in long-term pharmacotherapy: REVISITING... PREVENTION OF RELAPSE AND RECURRENCE OF DEPRESSION Adv. Psychiatr. Treat., May 1, 2005; 11(3): 184 - 194. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Vos, M. M. Haby, J. J. Barendregt, M. Kruijshaar, J. Corry, and G. Andrews The Burden of Major Depression Avoidable by Longer-term Treatment Strategies Arch Gen Psychiatry, November 1, 2004; 61(11): 1097 - 1103. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Ormel, A. J. Oldehinkel, and W. Vollebergh Vulnerability Before, During, and After a Major Depressive Episode: A 3-Wave Population-Based Study Arch Gen Psychiatry, October 1, 2004; 61(10): 990 - 996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Healy and G. Aldred Death, Dependence and Deception J Psychopharmacol, June 1, 2004; 18(2): 285 - 287. [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. B. Ustun, J. L. Ayuso-Mateos, S. Chatterji, C. Mathers, and C. J. L. Murray Global burden of depressive disorders in the year 2000 The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2004; 184(5): 386 - 392. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Ormel, A. J. Oldehinkel, W. A. Nolen, and W. Vollebergh Psychosocial Disability Before, During, and After a Major Depressive Episode: A 3-Wave Population-Based Study of State, Scar, and Trait Effects Arch Gen Psychiatry, April 1, 2004; 61(4): 387 - 392. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. B. USTUN and R. C. KESSLER Global burden of depressive disorders: the issue of duration The British Journal of Psychiatry, September 1, 2002; 181(3): 181 - 183. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|