Recovery from a recurrent major depressive episode

Episode-related factors and antidepressant treatment adequacy may be important determinants of recovery from a major depressive episode (MDE). We compared recovered and nonrecovered patients on baseline sociodemographic, clinical and episode-related measurements. Twenty-five inpatients with recurrent major depressive disorder diagnosed by SADS-L participated in this naturalistic, prospective, longitudinal study. Recovery, which was defined as a sustained return to non-depressed status lasting > or = 8 consecutive weeks, was assessed at 6- and 12-month follow-up with the Streamlined Longitudinal Interval Continuation Evaluation (SLICE). Thirteen (52%) patients met recovery criteria. The cumulative proportion remaining depressed for at least 52 weeks was 42.5%. Recovered patients had shorter episodes preceding the index hospitalization (P = .01). Despite adequate antidepressant pharmacotherapy, the length of the current episode remains the most important correlate of recovery from MDE recurrence. Our small sample size and the uncontrolled nature of treatment may limit the generalizability of these findings.