Predictors of persistent social impairment among recovered depressed outpatients

Abstract

Background: Though the social functioning of most depressed outpatients improves with effective treatment, a subgroup may remain impaired after recovering from depression. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of residual social impairment among patients who recovered from depression. Methods: These data were obtained from the Treatment of Depression Collaborative Research Program (TDCPR) public access tape. The TDCPR tested the relative efficacy of two psychotehrapies, imipramine, and placebo in major depression. Patients received follow-up assessments after completing the clinical trial. The following assessment instruments were used to assess predictor variables: Social Adjustment Scale II, Personality Assessment Form (PAF), Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Events (LIFE), and the Schedule for Affective Disorders (SADS). Results: Recovered patients who were socially impaired at the end of treatment and six months later, had a higher rate of Intermittent Depression, and reported greater malfunctioning during adolescence than recovered patients whose functioning was unimpaired after treatment and at follow-up. The rates of personality disorders were not significantly different between these groups. Limitations: These analyses were performed post-hoc and the sample size was small. Conclusions: A chronic course of depression predicted persistent social maladjustment among patients who recovered from depression for 6 months.