Secondary depression: familial, clinical, and research perspectives
Abstract
The authors evaluate the clinical and research significance of the diagnosis of secondary depression by comparing 48 cases of primary and 26 cases of secondary depression. The patients with secondary depression have a higher familial prevalence of alcoholism, affective disorder, and drug abuse. The groups differ somewhat on a few sociodemographic, behavioral, and attitudinal variables but are similar in symptomatology, sex ratio, onset and duration of symptoms, treatment received, and response to treatment. These results suggest that the distinction between primary and secondary depression should be retained in research that examines neurochemistry or genetics. Primary and secondary depression appear to be identical from the persepctive of clinical care. Management of these patients should emphasize the diagnosis of depression rather than antecedent diagnoses.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).