PURPOSE For depressed older primary care patients, this study aimed to examine (a) characteristics associated with depression treatment preferences; (b) predictors of receiving preferred treatment; and (c) whether receiving preferred treatment predicted satisfaction and depression outcomes. DESIGN AND METHODS Data are from 1,602 depressed older primary care patients who participated in a mult...

Although several studies have examined the effects of psychotherapy on chronic depression and dysthymia, no meta-analysis has been conducted to integrate results of these studies. We conducted a meta-analysis of 16 randomized trials examining the effects of psychotherapy on chronic depression and dysthymia. We found that psychotherapy had a small but significant effect (d=0.23) on depression wh...

BACKGROUND The underdiagnosis of depression is an important research topic. Nevertheless, overdiagnosis has not been given the importance it deserves by research into the ability of family physicians to diagnose depression correctly. OBJECTIVES To identify the factors that determine the overdiagnosis of depression by family physicians and to evaluate the clinical significance of this error. ...

PURPOSE We investigated the prevalence, severity, and course of passive and active suicidal ideation occurring in primary care patients with an uncomplicated depressive disorder. METHODS We studied suicidal ideation experienced by patients recruited in 60 primary care practices participating in a randomized controlled trial of depression management. Risk levels associated with suicidal ideati...

Though dysthymia is considered less severe and more chronic than major depressive disorder, it is unclear whether the two disorders are truly different. In this study, MMPI-2 scales of 21 patients with dysthymia and 30 patients with major depressive disorder were compared. The average scores on Scales 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 were in the clinical range for both groups. However, sizable differences bet...

BACKGROUND Many scales have been developed to assess depression, but they are often too lengthy to be of practical use in general practice consultations. AIM A study was undertaken to investigate the feasibility, reliability and diagnostic value of the geriatric depression scale and its shorter versions for screening in general practice. METHOD A total of 586 consecutive consulting patients...

Patients: 418 adolescents aged 13–21 years, presenting at clinic with either of two criteria: endorsed ‘‘stem items’’ for major depression or dysthymia from 12 month Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-12), one week or more of depressive symptoms in the past month, and a total Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score of >16; or a CES-D score of >24. Exclu...

BACKGROUND Behavioral activation system (BAS) deficits are hypothesized to increase risk for depression. This study tested the hypothesis that BAS deficits, measured with both self-report and electrophysiological methods, would predict the six-month course of depression. METHODS 67 participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) with or without pre-existing dysthymia were assessed at baseli...

BACKGROUND Current classification of unipolar depression reflects the idea that prognosis is essential. However, do DSM categories of major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymic disorder (Dysth) and double depression (DD=MDD+Dysth) indeed adequately represent clinically relevant course trajectories of unipolar depression? Our aim was to test DSM categories (MDD, Dysth and DD) in comparison with ...

BACKGROUND It is well-established that the incidence of major depressive disorder is increased in subjects with subthreshold depression. A new research area focuses on the possibilities of preventing the onset of major depressive disorders in subjects with subthreshold depression. An important research question for this research area is which subjects with subthreshold depression will develop a...