Changes in the ratings of intimacy of personal relationships in
depressed elderly patients were studied over a 1-year period. Those
patients who had recovered by the end of the year were significantly more
likely to report an improvement in the quality of their close relationships
then were patients who had a poor clinical outcome. Changes in reports of
intimacy were due not only to the effect of depression on the quality of
relationships but also to independent life events occurring in the
follow-up period.Abstract Teaser