Conflicts of interest. None.
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Research Article
WHY DO SOME DEPRESSED OUTPATIENTS WHO ARE NOT IN REMISSION ACCORDING TO THE HAMILTON DEPRESSION RATING SCALE NONETHELESS CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE IN REMISSION?
Article first published online: 7 AUG 2012
DOI: 10.1002/da.21987
© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Zimmerman, M., Martinez, J., Attiullah, N., Friedman, M., Toba, C. and Boerescu, D. A. (2012), WHY DO SOME DEPRESSED OUTPATIENTS WHO ARE NOT IN REMISSION ACCORDING TO THE HAMILTON DEPRESSION RATING SCALE NONETHELESS CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE IN REMISSION?. Depress. Anxiety, 29: 891–895. doi: 10.1002/da.21987
Funding/support: The research was supported, in part, by Eli Lilly USA, LLC.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 1 OCT 2012
- Article first published online: 7 AUG 2012
- Manuscript Accepted: 7 JUL 2012
- Manuscript Revised: 2 JUL 2012
- Manuscript Received: 15 DEC 2011
Funded by
- Eli Lilly USA
- LLC
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- depression;
- remission;
- Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression
Background
In treatment studies of depression, remission is typically defined narrowly—based on scores on symptom severity scales. Patients treated in clinical practice, however, define the concept of remission more broadly and consider functional status, coping ability, and life satisfaction as important indicators of remission status. In the present report from the Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services (MIDAS) project, we examined how many mildly symptomatic depressed patients in ongoing treatment who did not score in the remission range on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) nonetheless considered themselves to be in remission from their depression. Among the mildly symptomatic HAMD nonremitters, we compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who did and did not consider themselves to be in remission.
Methods
We interviewed 274 psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with DSM-IV major depressive disorder who were in ongoing treatment. The patients completed measures of psychosocial functioning and quality of life.
Results
Approximately one-quarter of the patients scoring 8–12 on the HAMD considered themselves to be in remission. Compared to patients who did not consider themselves to be in remission, the remitters reported significantly better quality of life, less functional impairment due to depression, higher positive mental health scores, and better coping ability.
Discussion
Some patients who do not meet symptom-based definitions of remission nonetheless consider themselves to be in remission. The findings raise caution in relying exclusively on symptom-based definitions of remission to guide treatment decision making in clinical practice. Depression and Anxiety 00:1-5, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.