Personality and clinical predictors of recurrence of depression

Objective: To help clinicians more accurately predict outcomes of treatment for depression, variables associated with recurrence of depression in the year after treatment were examined in a group Of patients who completed tre atment for an index episode of depression. Methods: Forty-two depressed pat ients who participated in a double-blind pharmacological treatment study we re followed For one year after treatment was discontinued, Length of treatm ent for the index episode was determined. by clinicians and ranged from eig ht to 76 consecutive a weeks. Eighteen patients who had a recurrent episode (43 percent) and 24 patients who did not (57 percent) were compared on soc iodemographic and clinical variables, including scores on the Eysenck Perso nality Questionnaire (EPQ). Results: A. combination of three variables pred icted recurrence. of depression in 90 percent of cases. They were an elevat ed EPQ score on the neuroticism subscale, a short duration of treatment of the index episode, and a slow onset Of response to treatment of the index e pisode, Conclusions: The findings suggest that personality traits, treatmen t duration, and variations in response to treatment might have an impact on long-term treatment outcome. Clinicians should consider these factors when making treatment decisions for depressed patients.