BACKGROUND: A Dutch cohort of predominantly out- @entity1 DSM-III-R major @entity308 @entity1 was followed for 3 to 5 years after start of treatment in a psycho-neuro-endocrinological prediction study. The study design permitted description of the course of remissions, relapses and recurrences. METHODS: Pharmacological treatment was standardized, psychotherapy was tailored to the needs of the @entity1 , follow-ups were done monthly until 3 years or more after the initial recruitment. RESULTS: After 9 months 49% of the @entity1 had reached full remission and 45% were in partial remission. During the following 3 to 5 years 82% of the @entity1 had reached a period of full remission. Sixteen per cent of the @entity1 needed 2 years or more before full remission. A relapse or recurrence rate of 41% within 5 years was found. @entity1 with residual symptoms relapsed particularly in the first 4 months after remission, while @entity1 without residual symptoms recurred mainly after 12 months after remission. Previous @entity308 and psychoticism predicted relapse. Psychomotor retardation at inception predicted a longer time to partial remission. CONCLUSION: In most cases, @entity308 is a seriously @entity66 . This is also true for a sample of predominantly out- @entity1 treated at a university clinic.

Three- to 5-year prospective follow-up of outcome in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity308 :: ('MESH:D003866', 'Disease') :: ['depressive episodes', 'major depression', 'depressive'] @entity66 :: ('MESH:D004194', 'Disease') :: ['impairing episodic disease']
@entity308 :: (MESH:D003866,Disease) :: ['major depression']
