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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 9/2008

01-09-2008 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Mental health and well-being in a 6-year follow-up of patients with depression

Assessments of patients and clinicians

Authors: Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen, MD, PhD, MPH, Timo K. Tuovinen, MD, Kirsi Honkalampi, PhD, Risto Antikainen, PhD, Jukka Hintikka, MD, PhD, Kaisa Haatainen, PhD, Heimo Viinamäki, MD, PhD

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 9/2008

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Abstract

Background

Psychiatric patients have the right to strive for well-being and not only be confined to symptom reduction. Studies are needed to assess global well-being during recovery from depression by comparing the assessments of patients and clinicians.

Method

A 6-year natural follow-up of 185 depressive out-patients was carried out with health questionnaires at baseline, 0.5, 1, 2 and 6 years, including scales on depression (BDI, HDRS), general psychopathology (SCL), functional capacity (GAF, SOFAS) and life satisfaction (LS). A structured diagnostic interview was carried out at baseline, 2 and 6 years. Complete follow-up data were obtained from 121 patients.

Results

In general, depressive patients mainly attained a normal mood, adequate functional capacity and life satisfaction. Those with a slow recovery improved with successive treatment contacts, eventually reaching levels of mental health not significantly different from the others. Throughout the follow-up, recovery was similarly shown with the self-reported BDI-21, SCL-90 and LS-4, while intercorrelations between clinician ratings were low at baseline.

Conclusions

Adequate mental health and global well-being can be reached among depressive patients, but it may take time in treatment. Subjective assessments are reliable. The 4-item life satisfaction scale is a global well-being indicator and a valid treatment outcome measure.
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Metadata
Title
Mental health and well-being in a 6-year follow-up of patients with depression
Assessments of patients and clinicians
Authors
Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen, MD, PhD, MPH
Timo K. Tuovinen, MD
Kirsi Honkalampi, PhD
Risto Antikainen, PhD
Jukka Hintikka, MD, PhD
Kaisa Haatainen, PhD
Heimo Viinamäki, MD, PhD
Publication date
01-09-2008
Publisher
D. Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 9/2008
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0353-x

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