Non-reactive mood in outpatient depression: A 557-case study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to find the prevalence of non-reactive mood in major depressive episode (MDE) outpatients, and to compare mood non-reactive and mood reactive patients. Five hundred and fifty-seven consecutive unipolar and bipolar METHOD: Five hundred and fifty-seven consecutive unipolar and bipolar II outpatients, presenting for MDE treatment, were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. RESULTS: Non-reactive mood was assessed by MADRS. Non-reactive mood was present in 12.0% of patients. There was no significant age, gender, bipolar II, or unipolar difference between non-reactive and reactive mood patients, while MDE severity was significantly greater in non-reactive mood patients. CONCLUSION: Non-reactive mood is uncommon among bipolar II and unipolar depressed outpatients. It is associated with severe depression, and the proportions of bipolar II and unipolar patients are not different between non-reactive and reactive mood patients. (Int J Psych Clin Pract 2000; 4:119-121)