Onset Of Depressive Episode Research Articles

The relationship between depression and chronotype: A longitudinal assessment during childhood and adolescence.

During adolescence, chronotype shifts toward "eveningness." "Eveningness" is related to negative physical and mental health outcomes. Little is known about what influences the shift in chronotype beyond pubertal status. The current study examined the influence of earlier depression predicting later individual differences in adolescent chronotype, accounting for pubertal status, and the prospective prediction of later increases in depression from earlier chronotype. Youth (age M=12.06, SD=2.35; 56.5% girls) from the community completed repeated assessments of depression, including both self-reports (14 assessments) and diagnostic interviews (eight assessments), over a 48-month period. At the 36-month timepoint, participants completed chronotype and pubertal development measures. Regression and ANOVA analyses examined: (1) the influence of earlier depression levels (baseline to 36 months) upon chronotype, and (2) chronotype (at 36 months) upon later depression (48 months). Youth with higher earlier depression symptoms (β=-0.347, P<.001) and history of depression diagnosis (β=-0.13, P=.045) showed a greater eveningness preference controlling for pubertal status, age, and gender. Further, depression diagnosis history interacted with pubertal status to predict chronotype: (F(1,243)=4.171, P=.045) such that the influence of depression on chronotype was greatest among postpubertal youth (t=3.271, P=.002). Chronotype (greater eveningness preference) predicted prospective increases in depression symptoms (β=-0.16, P=.03) and onset of depressive episode (b=-0.085, OR=0.92, P=.03) 1 year later. Depression, experienced earlier in life, predicts greater preference for eveningness, especially among postpubertal youth. In turn, later depression is predicted by evening preference. These findings suggest the reciprocal interplay between mood and biological rhythms, especially depression and chronotype, during adolescence.

What characteristics are associated with earlier onset of first depressive episodes: A 16-year follow-up of a national population-based cohort

This study examined characteristics associated with earlier onset of first depressive episodes. A nationally representative Canadian sample was randomly selected and followed from 1994 to 2011. At baseline complete data on depression history (Yes/No) and related diseases was available for 12,227 study subjects. Proportional hazard models were used. Meta-analyses were also applied to sync results across studies. Being younger, a woman, a Caucasian, a regular smoker, and having a chronic disease were significantly associated with the expedited trajectory for the onset of the first depressive episode. People were at the greater risk of having earlier onset of first depressive episodes at the 2-year follow-up (p < 0.001), with the risk declining after four years (p < 0.001). Women and men had different sets of characteristics associated with earlier onset of first depressive episodes. In meta-analyses, those having a chronic disease (HRpooled = 1.31) and being a woman (HRpooled = 1.43) were more likely to have earlier onset of first depressive episodes. This study provides solid evidence on the timing effect of these characteristics on first depressive episodes. Approaches focused on these identified risk characteristics should be prioritized to reduce the risk and postpone the onset of major depressive episode.

Impact of early and recent stress on white matter microstructure in major depressive disorder

BackgroundMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a worldwide-spread pathology, characterized by lifetime-recurrent episodes. Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) increase the lifetime risk of developing depression and affect the structure of the brain. Recent stressful events (RSE) can trigger the onset of depressive episodes, and affect grey matter volume. The aim of our study is to analyse the effect of both early and recent stress events on white matter microstructure in MDD patients and healthy volunteers. MethodsSixty-five MDD inpatients and fifty-nine healthy controls underwent MRI acquisition of diffusion tensor images with a 3.0T scanner. Severity of ACE and RSE was rated, respectively, on the Risky Families Questionnaire and on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale. ResultsA significant effect of diagnosis was observed, with MDD subjects showing reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity (AD) compared to healthy controls in all the major association, projection and commissural tracts. In patients with MDD, but not in healthy controls, both ACE and RSE correlated with measures of WM microstructure: ACE correlated negatively with AD and MD, whereas RSE correlated negatively with FA. LimitationsThe two diagnostic groups differed for age and education, previous and current medications, and treatment periods. Conclusions. Exposure to both early and recent stress exerts a widespread effect on WM microstructure of MDD patients, with a different impact possibly depending from the developmental period in which the stress has occurred.

Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in first-episode, drug-naïve depressive patients: A 5-year retrospective study.

Despite different treatments and courses of illness, depressive symptoms appear similar in bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), causing BD with an onset of depressive episode being frequently misdiagnosed as MDD, and leading to inappropriate treatment and poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore underlying neural basis to distinguish BD from MDD. The medical records of 80 first-episode, drug-naïve depressive patients with an initial diagnosis of MDD and illness duration of at least 5 years were reviewed retrospectively for this study. Fourteen bipolar depressed patients with a diagnosis conversion from MDD to BD, 14 patients with diagnosis of MDD, and 14 healthy subjects demographically matched with the BD group, were selected to participate in the study. Firstly, we examined whether there were differences among the three groups in whole brain fALFF during resting state. Secondly, clusters showing group differences in fALFF in any two groups were chosen as regions of interest (ROI) and then correlation between clinical features and fALFF values of ROIs were calculated. The BD group showed increased fALFF in bilateral putamen relative to both the MDD group and controls, while the MDD group exhibited decreased fALFF in left superior frontal gyrus (SFG) relative to both the BD group and controls (p < 0.05, corrected). Positive correlations between abnormality in the putamen and symptom severity were observed (significant for the MDD group, p = 0.043; marginally significant for the BD group, p = 0.060/0.076). These results implicate that abnormalities of key regions in the striatum and prefrontal areas may be trait markers for BD and MDD.

5-HTTLPR moderates the association between attention away from angry faces and prospective depression among youth

Attention bias to emotion has been studied as a risk factor associated with depression. No study has examined whether attention bias within the context of measured genetic risk leads to increased risk for clinical depressive episodes over time. The current study investigated whether genetic risk, as indexed by the serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), moderated the relationship between attention bias to emotional faces and clinical depression onset prospectively across 18-months in a community sample of youth (n = 428; mean age = 11.97, SD = 2.28; 59% girls). Youth who attended away from angry emotional faces and were homozygous for the S allele of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism were at greater risk for prospective depressive episode onset. The current study's findings highlight the importance of examining risk for depression across multiple levels of analysis and demonstrate attention away from threat as a possible point of intervention related to attention bias modification and depression treatment among youth.

Negative cognitive style and attentional switching interact with emotional maltreatment to predict first onset of a major depressive episode in adolescence via hopelessness

Negative cognitive style and attentional switching interact with emotional maltreatment to predict first onset of a major depressive episode in adolescence via hopelessness

3.54 DISENTANGLING THE PERSONALITY-EVENT-PSYCHOPATHOLOGY RELATIONSHIP: ADOLESCENT FEMALE PERSONALITY TRAITS PREDICT FIRST ONSET OF INTERNALIZING DISORDERS

There is substantial evidence that personality traits, such as self-criticism and dependency, predict the development of symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as onsets of depressive episodes. However, whether personality traits predict the first onset of depressive and anxiety disorders is unclear. Moreover, few studies have attempted to integrate cross-sectional, prospective, and dynamic models of personality, stress, and psychopathology under one analytic framework.

Aggression Protects Against the Onset of Major Depressive Episodes in Individuals With Bipolar Spectrum Disorder

A growing body of research suggests that bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) are associated with high aggression. However, little research has prospectively examined how aggression may affect time to onset of hypomanic/manic versus major depressive episodes. In a longitudinal study, we tested the hypothesis that aggression would prospectively predict a shorter time to the onset of hypomanic/manic episodes and a longer time to the onset of major depressive episodes, based on the behavioral approach system theory of BSDs. Young adults (N = 120) diagnosed with cyclothymia, bipolar II disorder, or bipolar disorder not otherwise specified were followed every 4 months for an average of 3.55 years. Participants completed measures of depressive and manic symptoms, family history of mood disorder, impulsivity, and aggression at baseline and were followed prospectively with semistructured diagnostic interview assessments of hypomanic/manic and major depressive episodes and treatment seeking for mood problems. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses indicated that overall, physical, and verbal aggression predicted a longer time to major depressive episode onset, even after controlling for baseline depressive and manic symptoms, family history of mood disorder, treatment seeking for mood problems, and impulsivity. Aggression, however, did not significantly predict time to onset of hypomanic/manic episodes, controlling for the same covariates. The findings suggest that approach-related behaviors may be utilized to delay the onset of major depressive episodes among people with BSDs.

Prolonged secretion of cortisol as a possible mechanism underlying stress and depressive behaviour.

Stress is associated with the onset of depressive episodes, and cortisol hypersecretion is considered a biological risk factor of depression. However, the possible mechanisms underlying stress, cortisol and depressive behaviours are inconsistent in the literature. This study examined the interrelationships among stress, cortisol and observed depressive behaviours in female rhesus macaques for the first time and explored the possible mechanism underlying stress and depressive behaviour. Female monkeys were video-recorded, and the frequencies of life events and the duration of huddling were analysed to measure stress and depressive behaviour. Hair samples were used to measure chronic cortisol levels, and the interactions between stress and cortisol in the development of depressive behaviour were further evaluated. Significant correlations were found between stress and depressive behaviour measures and between cortisol levels and depressive behaviour. Stress was positively correlated with cortisol levels, and these two factors interacted with each other to predict the monkeys’ depressive behaviours. This finding extends the current understanding of stress/cortisol interactions in depression, especially pertaining to females.

Correlates and prognostic relevance of sleep irregularity in inter-episode bipolar disorder

ObjectivesSleep–wake disturbances, such as sleep irregularity, are common in bipolar disorder. Early studies suggest that sleep irregularity is associated with mood symptoms in bipolar disorder, but little research has been conducted to identify other correlates of sleep irregularity. We investigated the relationship between sleep irregularity and sleep quality, social rhythms, eveningness, sleep-related cognitions and behaviors, and past and future mood episodes in 84 patients with inter-episode bipolar I or II disorder. MethodsThis is a retrospective and prospective, naturalistic follow-up study. The Expanded Consensus Sleep Diary, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Social Rhythm Metric (SRM-II-5), Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM), Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes About Sleep Scale (DBAS-16), and Sleep Hygiene Practice Scale (SHPS) were administered. The Square Successive Difference (SSD), derived from a week-long sleep diary, was used as an index of sleep irregularity. Multilevel modeling analysis, which adjusts for biases in parameter estimates, was used to minimize the impact of missing data. Bonferroni correction was performed to account for multiple testing. ResultsHigher SSD scores of sleep diary variables were significantly associated with higher PSQI, SRM-II-5, DBAS-16, and SHPS scores. Irregularity in total sleep time was related to more depressive episodes in the past 5years (p=.002), while irregularity in wake after sleep onset predicted the onset of depressive episodes over the next 2years (p=.002). ConclusionSleep irregularity was associated with poor sleep quality, irregular social rhythms, dysfunctional sleep-related cognitions and behaviors, and greater number of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder.

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for major depression following perinatal loss: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

This randomized controlled pilot trial examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an adapted interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for major depressive disorder (MDD) following perinatal loss (miscarriage, stillbirth, or early neonatal death). Fifty women who experienced a perinatal loss within the past 18months, whose current depressive episode onset occurred during or after the loss, were randomized to the group IPT adapted for perinatal loss (the Group IPT for Major Depression Following Perinatal Loss manual developed for this study is available at no cost by contacting either of the first two authors) or to the group Coping with Depression (CWD), a cognitive behavioral treatment which did not focus on perinatal loss nor social support. Assessments occurred at baseline, treatment weeks 4 and 8, post-treatment, and 3 and 6months after the end of treatment. IPT was feasible and acceptable in this population. Although some participants were initially hesitant to discuss their losses in a group (as occurred in IPT but not CWD), end of treatment satisfaction scores were significantly (p = 0.001) higher in IPT than in CWD. Confidence intervals around between-groups effect sizes favored IPT for reductions in depressive symptoms during treatment as well as for improvement in mode-specific targets (social support, grief symptoms) and recovery from a post-traumatic stress disorder over follow-up. This group IPT treatment adapted for MDD after perinatal loss is feasible, acceptable, and possibly efficacious.

DEPRESSIVE EPISODE INCIDENCE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C TREATED WITH PEGYLATED INTERFERON AND RIBAVIRIN.

The effectiveness of antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C is far from ideal and presents several adverse events. Among such events, there is the depressive episode that can even lead to treatment discontinuity. Analyze the incidence of depressive episodes in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon (IFN-PEG) and ribavirin, as well as the possible factors associated with its occurrence and its impact on patients' sustained virological response. People with chronic hepatitis C undergoing antiviral therapy were interviewed at the baseline, at the 4th, 12th, 24th and 48th treatment weeks and 4 weeks after the end of it, using the HADS scale for tracking the depressive episode. Patients with HADS ≥9 were subjected to Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) to grade the episode. Clinical, sociodemographic, laboratorial and histological variables were obtained to identify factors related to the onset of depression. The sustained virological response rate (negative HCV-RNA 6 months after end of therapy) was compared among patients with and without depressive symptoms. The study comprised 32 patients, most men (59%) with mean age of 54±11.13 years old. Genotype non-1 was prevalent (56%) and 81% of the patients were non-cirrhotic. The depressive episode was diagnosed in 25% of the patients and the peak incidence was found in the 12th treatment week. The depressive episode was moderate in 87% of the patients and only one patient abandoned the treatment. None of the analyzed factors was associated with depressive episode onset. A trend was observed in female patients ( P =0.08). The sustained virological response rate was of 75% and 67% in patients with and without depressive episode, respectively ( P =0.66). The incidence of depressive episodes in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing antiviral therapy was of 25% and the 12th treatment week was the most critical one. The presence of depressive episode did not affect the sustained virological response rate.

Long-term Follow-up of a Randomized Clinical Trial Assessing the Efficacy of a Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Depression Prevention Intervention for Caregivers with Elevated Depressive Symptoms

To evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for the prevention of depression in caregivers with elevated depressive symptoms through 12 months of follow-up. Randomized controlled trial. Community in Galicia (Spain). 170 caregivers with elevated depressive symptoms. Caregivers were randomized to a cognitive-behavioral intervention (N = 88), administered to groups of five participants in five weekly 90-min sessions, or to a usual care control group (N = 82). Major depressive episodes (according to the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders of the DSM-IV), depressive symptoms, emotional distress, caregiver burden, pleasant activities, depressive thoughts, social contacts. Trained blinded interviewers conducted assessments at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. At the 12-month follow-up, there was a lower incidence of major depressive episodes in the intervention group compared with the control group (3.4% versus 22.0%). The relative risk was 0.15 (95% CI: 0.05-0.51) and the number needed to treat was 5 (95% CI: 3-11). The time of delay of the depressive episode onset in the intervention group was significant. Caregivers with good compliance to the intervention had a lower incidence of depression. The effects of the intervention on depressive symptoms, emotional distress, and caregiver burden were maintained for 12 months. Younger caregivers were more likely to benefit from the intervention. The change in depressive thoughts mediated the reduction in depressive symptoms. Depressive episodes can be successfully prevented in caregivers, with long-term effects.

Prevention of Depression in At-Risk Adolescents: Moderators of Long-term Response.

In a randomized controlled trial, we found that a cognitive behavioral program (CBP) was significantly more effective than usual care (UC) in preventing the onset of depressive episodes, although not everyone benefitted from the CBP intervention. The present paper explored this heterogeneity of response. Participants were 316 adolescents (M age = 14.8, SD = 1.4) at risk for depression due to having had a prior depressive episode or having current subsyndromal depressive symptoms and having a parent with a history of depression. Using a recursive partitioning approach to baseline characteristics, we (Weersing et al. 2016) previously had identified distinct risk clusters within conditions that predicted depressive episodes through the end of the continuation phase (month 9). The present study used the same risk clusters that had been derived in the CBP group through month 9 to reclassify the UC group and then to examine group differences in depression through month 33. We found that in this overall very high-risk sample, the CBP program was superior to UC among youth in the low-risk cluster (n = 33), characterized by higher functioning, lower anxiety, and parents not depressed at baseline, but not in the middle (n = 95) and high-risk (n = 25) clusters. Across conditions, significantly more depression-free days were found for youth in the low-risk cluster (M = 951.9, SD = 138.8) as compared to youth in the high-risk cluster (M = 800.5, SD = 226.7). Identification of moderators, based on purely prognostic indices, allows for more efficient use of resources and suggests possible prevention targets so as to increase the power of the intervention.

Potential Relationship between Season of Birth and Clinical Characteristics in Major Depressive Disorder in Koreans: Results from the CRESCEND Study.

We aimed to examine the potential relationship between season of birth (SOB) and clinical characteristics in Korean patients with unipolar non-psychotic major depressive disorder (MDD). Using data from the Clinical Research Center for Depression (CRESCEND) study in South Korea, 891 MDD patients were divided into two groups, those born in spring/summer (n=457) and those born in autumn/winter (n=434). Measurement tools comprising the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Scale for Suicidal Ideation, Clinical Global Impression of severity, Social and Occupation Functional Assessment Scale, WHO Quality of Life assessment instrument-abbreviated version, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, and Temperament and Character Inventory were used to evaluate depression, anxiety, overall symptoms, suicidal ideation, global severity, social function, quality of life, drinking, and temperament and character, respectively. Using independent t-tests for continuous variables and χ2 tests for discrete variables, the clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. MDD patients born in spring/summer were on average younger at onset of first depressive episode (t=2.084, p=0.038), had greater loss of concentration (χ2=4.589, p=0.032), and were more self-directed (t=2.256, p=0.025) than those born in autumn/winter. Clinically, there was a trend for the MDD patients born in spring/summer to display the contradictory characteristics of more severe clinical course and less illness burden; this may have been partly due to a paradoxical effect of the 5-HT system.

Effect of a Cognitive-Behavioral Prevention Program on Depression 6 Years After Implementation Among At-Risk Adolescents: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Adolescents whose parents have a history of depression are at risk for developing depression and functional impairment. The long-term effects of prevention programs on adolescent depression and functioning are not known. To determine whether a cognitive-behavioral prevention (CBP) program reduced the incidence of depressive episodes, increased depression-free days, and improved developmental competence 6 years after implementation. A 4-site randomized clinical trial compared the effect of CBP plus usual care vs usual care, through follow-up 75 months after the intervention (88% retention), with recruitment from August 2003 through February 2006 at a health maintenance organization, university medical centers, and a community mental health center. A total of 316 participants were 13 to 17 years of age at enrollment and had at least 1 parent with current or prior depressive episodes. Participants could not be in a current depressive episode but had to have subsyndromal depressive symptoms or a prior depressive episode currently in remission. Analysis was conducted between August 2014 and June 2015. The CBP program consisted of 8 weekly 90-minute group sessions followed by 6 monthly continuation sessions. Usual care consisted of any family-initiated mental health treatment. The Depression Symptoms Rating scale was used to assess the primary outcome, new onsets of depressive episodes, and to calculate depression-free days. A modified Status Questionnaire assessed developmental competence (eg, academic or interpersonal) in young adulthood. Over the 75-month follow-up, youths assigned to CBP had a lower incidence of depression, adjusting for current parental depression at enrollment, site, and all interactions (hazard ratio, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.53-0.96]). The CBP program's overall significant effect was driven by a lower incidence of depressive episodes during the first 9 months after enrollment. The CBP program's benefit was seen in youths whose index parent was not depressed at enrollment, on depression incidence (hazard ratio, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.36-0.81]), depression-free days (d = 0.34, P = .01), and developmental competence (d = 0.36, P = .04); these effects on developmental competence were mediated via the CBP program's effect on depression-free days. The effect of CBP on new onsets of depression was strongest early and was maintained throughout the follow-up period; developmental competence was positively affected 6 years later. The effectiveness of CBP may be enhanced by additional booster sessions and concomitant treatment of parental depression. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00073671.

Twelve-Month Outcomes of a Randomized Trial of the Positive Thoughts and Action Program for Depression Among Early Adolescents.

This study was conducted to examine the 12-month effects on depression and depressive symptoms of a group-based cognitive-behavioral preventive intervention for middle school students (Positive Thoughts and Actions, or PTA), relative to a brief, individually administered supportive intervention (Individual Support Program, or ISP). A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 120 early adolescents (73 girls and 47 boys; age 12-14years) drawn from a school-based population who had elevated depressive symptoms. Youths completed measures of depressive symptoms at baseline, post-intervention, and 6 and 12months into the follow-up phase. Measures of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, school adjustment, interpersonal relationships, and health behavior were obtained from parents and/or youth. Multilevel models indicated that the effect of PTA on youth-reported depressive symptoms persisted until 12-month follow-up; d = 0.36 at post-intervention, d = 0.24 at 6-month follow-up, and d = 0.21 at 12-month follow-up. PTA youths also reported lower internalizing symptoms at post-intervention, d = 0.44, and at 12-month follow-up, d = 0.39. Time-limited effects were found for parent-reported internalizing symptoms and health behavior. Onset of new depressive episodes did not differ based on intervention group (21% ISP; 17% PTA). Results demonstrate support for the long-term efficacy of PTA, a cognitive-behavioral preventive intervention in which youths engage in personal goal-setting and practice social-emotional skills.

What Does the Speed of Onset of a Depressive Episode Tell Us?

In patients with affective disorders, the full-blown symptomatology of a depressive episode can develop very fast (e.g., within 1 d) or slowly over weeks or months. These differences in the speed of onset of depression are likely to reflect stable intraindividual differences in neurobiological pathomechanisms. This article presents available data on this issue from published studies and from a recently unpublished study and discusses the relevance of these data for diagnostic, therapeutic, and research purposes. On the basis a database search, we reviewed the literature on speed of onset of depressive episodes. Results of a study for which only some of the data have previously been published involving 205 patients with unipolar or bipolar depression were also considered. Five older studies produced data concerning the speed of onset of depressive episodes. In addition, our research group has conducted 2 other more recent studies that used the Onset of Depression Inventory to assess the speed of onset of depressive episodes. The major findings of the studies we examined were that depression developed within 1 week in 50% to 58% of patients with a bipolar disorder, whereas only in 7.4% to 21.4% of those with unipolar depression. Different depressive episodes appeared to develop at a similar speed within individual subjects (correlation coefficients: 0.46 to 0.66). Consistent evidence from 2 studies that used the Onset of Depression Inventory revealed that rapid onset of a depressive episode is more common in patients with bipolar disorder than in those with unipolar major depressive disorder and may be an indication of a latent, not yet expressed, bipolar disorder. The neurobiology of the speed of onset of depressive episodes is a topic for future research.

Stressful life events preceding the onset of depression in Asian patients with major depressive disorder.

Previous studies have identified the significant role of stressful life events in the onset of depressive episodes. However, there is a paucity of cross-national studies on stressful life events that precede depression. We aimed to compare types of stressful life events associated with the onset of depressive episodes in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in five Asian countries. A total of 507 outpatients with MDD were recruited in China (n = 114), South Korea (n = 101), Malaysia (n = 90), Thailand (n = 103) and Taiwan (n = 99). All patients were assessed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the List of Threatening Experiences. The prevalence of each type of stressful life events was calculated and compared between each country. The type of stressful life event that preceded the onset of a depressive episode differed between patients in China and Taiwan and those in South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. Patients in China and Taiwan were less likely to report interpersonal relationship problems and occupational/financial problems than patients in South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. Understanding the nature and basis of culturally determined susceptibilities to specific stressful life events is critical for establishing a policy of depression prevention and providing effective counseling services for depressed patients.

“Onset of Depression Inventory”—comparison between the data of depressed patients and their relatives

Background. The “Onset of Depression Inventory” (ODI) represents a patient interview which aims to register the speed of onset of depression systematically. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patient-relative agreement regarding the speed of onset of depression in the patients. Methods. The ODI was investigated in 31 patients with a depressive episode. Moreover, 31 patients’ relatives participated in an interview for which a modified version of the ODI (for relatives of depressed patients; ODI-A) was applied. Results. There was a significant association between patients’ estimation of the speed of onset of the depressive episode and relatives’ estimation of this parameter in the case of patients and relatives living in a common household (rho = 0.68; p = 0.006). Conclusions. There was an agreement between patients and their relatives regarding the speed of onset of the current depressive episodes, however only if they lived in a common household.