Psychosocial predictors of outcome in major depression: a prospective 12-month study

This study examined the relationship between clinical and psychosocial variables and unipolar major depression outcome. Ninety ambulatory patients, with an index phase duration of less than 6 months, were followed-up for 12 months. Two measures of outcome were used: persistence of severe or partial symptomatology. Sixty percent of the patients were asymptomatic (HDRS < 8), 24% improved but not totally and 17% persisted with severe symptomatology (HDRS> 18). Personality disorder, recurrent depression, low self-esteem and low satisfaction with social support were associated to non-full remission. Personality disorder and low satisfaction with social support were associated to non-improvement. This work underlines the need during treatment to take into account personality and social variables.