Dqcm. Bargeschaapveld et al., CHANGES IN DAILY-LIFE EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATED WITH CLINICAL IMPROVEMENTIN DEPRESSION, Journal of affective disorders, 34(2), 1995, pp. 139-154
Changes in depressed outpatients' experience of daily activities after
6 weeks of antidepressant treatment were assessed with the experience
sampling method (ESM). On the sickness impact profile, treatment resp
onders (HAM-D less than or equal to 7, n = 12) improved more than nonr
esponders (n = 9) in the domains of household chores, leisure and soci
al activities. On ESM measures completed 10 x each day for 6 days pre-
and posttreatment, responders showed greater increases in time spent
in chores and greater decreases in passive leisure time than nonrespon
ders. Responders showed greater increases in positive affect and great
er decreases in negative affect during all activities. Thus, ESM provi
des quantitative evidence of changes in real life time use and subject
ive experience accompanying clinical improvement.