Identification of depressed patient types in the community and their treatment needs: findings from the DEPRES II (Depression Research in European Society II) Survey

DEPRES II (Depression Research in European Society II), the first in-depth, pan-European survey of depression in the community, provided an opportunit y to identify depressed patient types and their treatment needs. Cluster an alysis applied to data generated from DEPRES II interviews revealed six dep ressed patient types with clearly differentiated profiles. The patient type with moderately impaired depression has episodic depression and minimal di sability. By contrast, severe depression associated with anxiety presents w ith chronic symptoms, including anxiety and panic, and causes considerable disruption to normal life and employment. Depression associated with chroni c physical problems and depression associated with social problems are char acterized by chronic physical illness and relationship or financial difficu lties, respectively, and sufferers are pessimistic about recovery Depressio n associated with sleep problems is associated with symptoms of tiredness a nd broken or inadequate sleep, and is commonly caused by stress. Tiredness is also a principal symptom of depression associated with tiredness or fati gue, but sufferers' ability to sleep is unaffected. All patient types would benefit from antidepressant therapy. The depressed patient types identifie d from the DEPRES II data make intuitive sense, but now need to be tested f or face validity in the primary care setting. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 14:1 53-165 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.