Recovery from Depression: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study of General Population Subjects

BACKGROUND: The recovery from depression and factors associated with it are not well known in the general population. AIMS: To conduct a two-year follow-up of general population subjects and investigate their recovery from depression. METHODS: Individuals who were assessed as suffering from depression on the basis of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were monitored for two years. RESULTS: Sixty-five per cent were still depressed after two years of follow-up. Negative life events had occurred more often in those who had remained depressed than in the others. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a high initial BDI score and a worsening of a subject's economic situation during the follow-up period were associated with failure to recover. Lack of use of health services was associated with non-recovery. CONCLUSION: Depression may be more chronic in the general population than previously has been thought.