Personal and social factors associated with the remission of psychiatric symptoms

Most studies of "spontaneous remission" involve samples of untreated psychiatric patients. This selection process limits the generalizability of findings to the population of persons with neurotic disturbances. This report concerns a community sample of people with neurotic disorders. Fifty subjects were followed up for five years, using both clinical and quantitative techniques. Almost half lost their symptoms during this time. Various sociodemographic factors, personality assets, and liabilities contribute to the process through which such remissions occur.