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Prognosis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The risk of recurrent or chronic depression following an index episode is high.

Most patients make some recovery:

  • 50-60% make at least a brief recovery within a year
  • 90% make a recovery within 5 years

If a weighted average of mood is taken over the longer term then it is apparent that recurrence is common:

  • 43% are improved at one year
  • only 24% are improved at 5 years
  • 25% will become depressed again within one year of an index episode
  • 75% will eventually have recurrent depression

Chronic depression is common:

  • 25% of depressed patients will become chronically depressed

Reference:

  • Angst, J. (1997). A regular review of the long term follow up of depression. BMJ, 315, 1143-4.

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