Instability of Symptoms in Recurrent Major Depression: a Prospective Study

The authors prospectively studied major depressive episodes occurring within 2 years to determine whether symptoms in the second episode could be predicted on the basis of symptoms in the first. 78 inpatients with major depressive disorder were assessed & followed-up at 3, 12, & 24 months after discharge. Subtype of depression appeared not to be stable. The most robust, although still weak, correlations across episodes were for anxiety & suicidal behaviour. Findings suggest there is a superfamily of mood disorders with pleopmorphic manifestations across major depressive episodes in patients with unipolar depression. (22 refs.)