Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
08:20
MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: August 11, 2015
Recovery from a recurrent major depressive episode
H M Kravitz1, R W Bloom, J Fawcett
1Department of Psychiatry, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Depression and Anxiety
|September 22, 2000
Summary
Shorter depressive episodes predict better recovery from major depressive disorder (MDD). Even with adequate treatment, current episode length is key for recovery in recurrent MDD patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) recurrence is common.
- Recovery from Major Depressive Episodes (MDE) is influenced by various factors.
- Antidepressant treatment adequacy is a potential determinant of MDE recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare recovered and nonrecovered patients based on baseline sociodemographic, clinical, and episode-related factors.
- To identify key determinants of recovery from recurrent MDE.
- To investigate the role of episode length and treatment adequacy in MDE recovery.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, longitudinal study of 25 inpatients with recurrent MDD.
- Diagnosis using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version (SADS-L).
- Recovery defined as >= 8 consecutive weeks of non-depressed status, assessed at 6 and 12 months using the Streamlined Longitudinal Interval Continuation Evaluation (SLICE).
Main Results:
- 52% of patients (13/25) met recovery criteria.
- 42.5% of patients remained depressed for at least 52 weeks.
- Recovered patients had significantly shorter preceding depressive episodes (P = .01).
Conclusions:
- The length of the current depressive episode is the most significant correlate of recovery from MDE recurrence, even with adequate antidepressant pharmacotherapy.
- Shorter episode duration is associated with a higher likelihood of recovery.
- Findings may be limited by small sample size and uncontrolled treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Classification of Illness
The meaning of illness is individualized to each person who experiences an alteration in health. In contrast, disease is a medical term indicating a pathological change in the structure and function of the body or mind. It is a condition that has specific symptoms and boundaries.
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
01:18Depression: Overview
Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
01:27Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia
Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...