CHANGES IN DAILY-LIFE EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATED WITH CLINICAL IMPROVEMENTIN DEPRESSION

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.