OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the outcome from in-patient treatment in major depressive disorders (MDD) and its impact on the patients' 1 year outcome under the present routine care conditions.
METHOD: The reported data stem from a multicentric follow-up study on the course and outcome of patients with MDD. Patients enrolled in the study had their first or multiple psychiatric hospitalization and fulfilled the ICD-10 criteria for a depressive disorder. During in-patient treatment patients were standardized assessed in 2-weekly intervals, with yearly follow-up evaluations after discharge.
RESULTS: The analyses revealed that the elimination of depressive symptoms and a return to premorbid levels of functioning is a rarity in the in-patient treatment of MDD. Moreover, the analyses revealed that the achieved level of response during in-patient treatment clearly determines the patients state 1 year after discharge from in-patient treatment.
CONCLUSION: Considering that persisting depressive symptoms are associated with a range of unfavourable outcomes, the present data point to a serious problem in the treatment of MDD and the urgent need to further optimize antidepressive treatment strategies.