Increased prevalence of negative life events in subtypes of major depressive disorder

The prevalence of negative life events is known to be increased among patie nts with depression. Little data exist on the specific subtypes of depressi on that are related to negative life events. Our study aimed to address thi s issue. We compare 115 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) to 60 normal controls. MDD patients reported experiencing one (P = .0001) or two (P = .01) negative life events more frequently than controls. Patients rep orted marital, other personal problems, and medical events significantly mo re often than controls (P < .01). Patients did not report more positive lif e events, and did not attribute greater severity to their adversities than controls. Younger MDD patients experienced four (P = .01) negative life eve nts significantly more often than older patients. Similarly, patients with mild-moderate depression, nonmelancholic depression, or first episode of de pression (FDE), respectively, experienced three or four life events signifi cantly more often than patients with severe, melancholic, or recurrent depr ession (RDE). Other patient and illness characteristics such as gender, ear ly parental toss, family history of depression or other mental disorders, p sychotic features, suicide attempts, and chronicity were not related to inc reased prevalence of negative life events. Our results support the hypothes is that a subset of patients with MDD is especially prone to suffer from a cluster of negative life events. This subgroup is at increased risk for rel apse and poor prognosis. The implications of these results for further rese arch and for treatment are discussed. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders C ompany.