Outcome assessment in depressed hospitalized patient

Psychiatric symptoms as well as work, social, and physical functioning were compared in two groups of psychiatric patients (36 depressed only and 34 depressed in conjunction with an eating disorder) and 77 controls. In both groups, Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores significantly improved from hospital admission to discharge and remained improved at 1.5 years postdischarge. As outpatients, the GAF, Zung Depression, and anxiety scores of both groups were significantly lower than for controls. Ratings of social functioning for depressed only outpatients did not differ from controls on five out of six measures. Predictors of posthospital improvement included high satisfaction with hospital treatment, high GAF scores on admission to hospital, perceived effectiveness of outpatient therapy, younger age, and an historical absence of sexual abuse or prior psychiatric hospitalization.