Am J Psychiatry 1989; 146:764-767
Copyright © 1989 by American Psychiatric Association
Clinical predictors of recurrence in depression
DE Giles, RB Jarrett, MM Biggs, DS Guzick and AJ Rush
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
In a longitudinal study of 30 successfully treated unipolar depressed
patients, the authors evaluated number of depressive episodes, early onset
of depression, and lifetime prevalence of affective disorders other than
major depression as risk factors for recurrence. Early onset of depression
(before age 20) and a history of affective disorders other than major
depression were each significantly associated with recurrence. Number of
episodes was not as powerful in predicting recurrence as either early onset
or lifetime prevalence of other affective disorders.
