Differential changes in areas of social adjustment from depressive episodes through recovery

The findings of the present short-term prospective study of 99 depressed outpatients further support previous cross-sectional observations to the effect that the course of depressive illness is often complicated by fluctuating social disturbances manifested by uneasiness in the work area, by disagreements with colleagues, and by difficulty in maintaining conflict-free relationships with significant others. By contrast, the incapacity to enjoy and use leisure time appeared less related to the symptomatologic variation in depression. Although we favor the hypothesis that impairment in leisure activity may represent a trait marker of depression, the hypothesis of it being a residual complication of repeated depressive episodes cannot be ruled out in view of short follow-up.