Categorical and dimensional stability of comorbid personality disorder symptoms in DSM-IV major depressive disorder: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the categorical and dimensional temporal stability of Axis II personality disorders among depressive patients, and to determine whether variations in Axis I comorbid disorders or self-reported personality traits predict changes in researcher-assigned personality disorder symptoms. METHOD: Patients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder (MDD) in the Vantaa Depression Study (N = 269) were interviewed with the World Health Organization Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, version 2.0, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Axis II Disorders and were assessed with the 57-item Eysenck Personality Inventory at baseline, 6 months, and 18 months. Baseline interviews occurred between February 1, 1997, and May 31, 1998; follow-up interviews were 6 months and 18 months after baseline for each patient. Of the patients included in the study, 193 remained unipolar and could be interviewed at both follow-ups. The covariation of the severity of depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and reported neuroticism and extraversion with assigned personality disorder symptoms was investigated by using general estimation equations. RESULTS: The diagnosis of personality disorder persisted at all time points in about half (43%) of the 81 MDD patients diagnosed with personality disorder at baseline. The number of positive personality disorder criteria declined, particularly during the first 6 months, by a mean of 3 criteria. The decline in reported personality disorder symptoms covaried significantly with declines in the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms (depressive: P = .02 for paranoid, P = .02 for borderline, and P = .01 for avoidant; anxiety: P = .08 for paranoid, P = .01 for borderline, and P < .001 for avoidant). Changes in patients' perceptions of self as measured by neuroticism covaried with changes in paranoid (P = .01) and borderline (P < .001) personality disorder symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Among MDD patients, the categorical stability of concurrent personality disorder diagnoses assigned while depressed is relatively poor, but the dimensional stability is moderate. The remission of depression as well as variations in Axis I comorbidity, particularly anxiety disorders, influences personality disorder diagnoses. These diagnostic difficulties most likely reflect broader variations in patients' perceptions of self over time, not merely psychometric problems related to the pertinent diagnostic criteria.

Long-term outcome of major depressive disorder in psychiatric patients is variable.

OBJECTIVE: The prevailing view of outcome of major depressive disorder (MDD), based on mostly inpatient cohorts sampled from tertiary centers, emphasizes chronicity and frequent recurrences. We investigated the long-term outcome of a regionally representative psychiatric MDD cohort comprising mainly outpatients. METHOD: The Vantaa Depression Study included 163 patients with DSM-IV MDD (71.5% of those eligible) diagnosed using structured and semistructured interviews and followed up at 6 months, 18 months, and 5 years with a life chart between February 1, 1997, and April 30, 2004. The effects of comorbid disorders and other predictors on outcome were comprehensively investigated. RESULTS: Over the 5-year follow-up, 98.8% of patients achieved a symptom state below major depressive episode (MDE) criteria, and 88.4% reached full remission, with the median time to full remission being 11.0 months. Nearly one third (29.3%) had no recurrences, whereas 30.0% experienced 1, 12.9% experienced 2, and 27.9% experienced 3 or more recurrences. Preceding dysthymic disorder (p = .028), cluster C personality disorder (p = .041), and longer MDE duration prior to entry (p = .011) were the most significant predictors of longer time in achieving full remission. Severity of MDD and comorbidity, especially social phobia, predicted probability of, shorter time to, and number of recurrences. CONCLUSION: Previous literature on mostly inpatient MDD may have, by generalizing from patients with the most severe psychopathology, overemphasized chronicity of MDD. The long-term outcome of MDD in psychiatric care is variable, with about one tenth of patients having poor, one third having intermediate, and one half having favorable outcomes. In addition to known predictors, cluster C personality disorders and social phobia warrant further attention as predictors of MDD outcome among outpatients.

Do characteristics of patients with major depressive disorder differ between primary and psychiatric care?

BACKGROUND: Despite the need for rational allocation of resources and cooperation between different treatment settings, clinical differences in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) between primary and psychiatric care remain obscure. We investigated these differences in representative patient populations from primary care versus secondary level psychiatric care in the city of Vantaa, Finland. METHOD: We compared MDD patients from primary care in the Vantaa Primary Care Depression Study (PC-VDS) (n=79) with psychiatric out-patients (n=223) and in-patients (n=46) in the Vantaa Depression Study (VDS). DSM-IV diagnoses were assigned by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I in PC-VDS) or Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN in VDS), and SCID-II interviews. Comparable information was collected on depression severity, Axis I and II co-morbidity, suicidal behaviour, preceding clinical course, and attitudes towards and pathways to treatment. RESULTS: Prevalence of psychotic subtype and severity of depression were highest among in-patients, but otherwise few clinical differences between psychiatric and primary care patients were detected. Suicide attempts, alcohol dependence, and cluster A personality disorder were associated with treatment in psychiatric care, whereas cluster B personality disorder was associated with primary care treatment. Patients' choice of the initial point of contact for current depressive symptoms seemed to be independent of prior clinical history or attitude towards treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Severe, suicidal and psychotic depression cluster in psychiatric in-patient settings, as expected. However, MDD patients in primary care or psychiatric out-patient settings may not differ markedly in their clinical characteristics. This apparent blurring of boundaries between treatment settings calls for enhanced cooperation between settings, and clearer and more structured division of labour.

Determinants of functional disability and social adjustment in major depressive disorder: a prospective study.

We examined prospectively factors influencing social and occupational disability and social adjustment among patients with major depressive disorder. The Vantaa Depression Study comprises a cohort of psychiatric inpatients and outpatients with major depressive disorder in the city of Vantaa, Finland. We prospectively interviewed 193 of 269 (72%) patients both 6 and 18 months after baseline. Axis I and II diagnoses were assessed via semistructured WHO Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry 2.0 and SCID-II interviews. Global disability and social and work adjustment were assessed. Patients' functional disability and social adjustment were alleviated concurrently with recovery from depression during the follow-up. The current level of functioning and social adjustment of a patient with depression was predicted by severity of depression, recurrence before baseline and during follow-up, lack of full remission, and time spent depressed. Comorbid psychiatric disorders, personality traits (neuroticism), and perceived social support had significant influence.

Differences in Axis I and II comorbidity between bipolar I and II disorders and major depressive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain a comprehensive view of differences in current comorbidity between bipolar I and II disorders (BD) and (unipolar) major depressive disorder (MDD), and Axis I and II comorbidity in BD in secondary-care psychiatric settings. METHOD: The psychiatric comorbidity of 90 bipolar I and 101 bipolar II patients from the Jorvi Bipolar Study and 269 MDD patients from the Vantaa Depression Study were compared. We used DSM-IV criteria assessed by semistructured interviews. Patients were inpatients and outpatients from secondary-care psychiatric units. Comparable information was collected on clinical history, index episode, symptom status, and patient characteristics. RESULTS: Bipolar disorder and MDD differed in prevalences of current comorbid disorders, MDD patients having significantly more Axis I comorbidity (69.1% vs. 57.1%), specifically anxiety disorders (56.5% vs. 44.5%) and cluster A (19.0% vs. 9.9%) and C (31.6% vs. 23.0%) personality disorders. In contrast, BD had more single cluster B personality disorders (30.9% vs. 24.6%). Bipolar I and bipolar II were similar in current overall comorbidity, but the prevalence of comorbidity was strongly associated with the current illness phase. CONCLUSIONS: Major depressive disorder and BD have somewhat different patterns in the prevalences of comorbid disorders at the time of an illness episode, with differences particularly in the prevalences of anxiety and personality disorders. Current illness phase explains differences in psychiatric comorbidity of BD patients better than type of disorder.

Prospective study of risk factors for attempted suicide among patients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: There are few prospective studies on risk factors for attempted suicide among psychiatric out- and in-patients with major depressive disorder. AIMS: To investigate risk factors for attempted suicide among psychiatric out- and in-patients with major depressive disorder in the city of Vantaa, Finland. METHOD: The Vantaa Depression Study included 269 patients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder diagnosed using semistructured interviews and followed up at 6- and 18-month interviews with a life chart. RESULTS: During the 18-month followup, 8% of the patients attempted suicide. The relative risk of an attempt was 2.50 during partial remission and 7.54 during a major depressive episode, compared with full remission (P 0.001). Numerous factors were associated with this risk, but lacking a partner, previous suicide attempts and total time spent in major depressive episodes were the most robust predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide attempts among patients with major depressive disorder are strongly associated with the presence and severity of depressive symptoms and predicted by lack of partner, previous suicide attempts and time spent in depression. Reducing the time spent depressed is a credible preventive measure.

Continuity is the main challenge in treating major depressive disorder in psychiatric care.

OBJECTIVE: Several evidence-based treatment guidelines for major depressive disorder (MDD) have been published. However, little is known about how recommendations for treatment are adhered to by patients in current usual psychiatric practice. METHOD: The Vantaa Depression Study is a prospective, naturalistic cohort study of 269 psychiatric patients with a new episode of DSM-IV MDD who were interviewed with the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders between February 1, 1997, and May 31, 1998, and again at 6 and 18 months. Treatments provided, as well as adherence to and attitudes toward both antidepressants and psychotherapeutic support/psychotherapy, were investigated among the 198 unipolar patients followed for 18 months. RESULTS: Most depression patients (88%) received antidepressants in the early acute phase, but about half (49%) terminated treatment prematurely. This premature termination was associated with worse outcome of major depressive episodes, and with negative attitudes, mainly explained by fear of dependence on or side effects of antidepressants. Nearly all patients (98%) received some psychosocial treatment in the acute phase; about one fifth (16%) had weekly psychotherapy during the follow-up. About a quarter of patients admitted nonadherence to ongoing treatments. CONCLUSION: Problems of psychiatric care seem most related to continuity of treatment. While adequate treatments are provided in the early acute phase, antidepressants are terminated too soon in about half of patients, often following their autonomous decisions. From a secondary and tertiary preventive point of view, improving continuity of treatment would appear a crucial task for improving the outcome of psychiatric patients with MDD.

Functional and work disability in major depressive disorder.

We examined factors related to social and occupational disability, social adjustment, and work disability among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), the dominant mental disorder causing functional and work disability. The Vantaa Depression Study comprises a cohort of 269 psychiatric inpatients and outpatients with MDD in the city of Vantaa, Finland. Axis I and II diagnoses were assessed via semistructured WHO Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry Version 2.0 and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R personality disorders interviews. Global disability, social and work adjustment, and being at work or on sick leave were assessed. The most important factors associated with level of social, functional, and work disability were severity and recurrence of depression, but older age and current Axis I and II comorbidity also significantly contributed. Of those employed, almost half (43%) were on sick leave. The most pervasive factors explaining level of functional and work disability among patients with MDD were severity and recurrence of depression. However, older age and comorbidity also contributed.

Severity and comorbidity predict episode duration and recurrence of DSM-IV major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Information on the naturalistic outcome of major depressive disorder (MDD) is important in developing rational clinical practices. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of MDD in a modern secondary-level psychiatric setting and the influence of comorbidity plus psychosocial factors on the outcome of MDD. METHOD: The Vantaa Depression Study is a prospective, naturalistic cohort study of 269 secondary-level care psychiatric outpatients and inpatients diagnosed with a new episode of DSM-IV MDD. Patients were initially interviewed to determine the presence of MDD using the World Health Organization Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and to assess Axis II diagnoses using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R personality disorders between February 1, 1997, and May 31, 1998, and were interviewed again at 6 months and 18 months. The exact duration of the index episode and the timing of relapses/recurrences were examined using a life chart. RESULTS: The median length of time that patients met full criteria for a major depressive episode was 1.5 (95% CL = 1.3 to 1.7) months, and the median time to full remission was 8.1 (95% CL = 5.2 to 11.0) months after entry. During the follow-up, 38% of patients had a recurrence. Although numerous factors predict outcome of MDD to some extent, severity of depression and current comorbidity were the 2 most important predictors of longer episode duration and recurrence. CONCLUSION: The course of MDD in modern psychiatric settings remains unfavorable. Any estimates of duration of depressive episodes and rates of recurrence are likely to be dependent on the severity of depression and level of comorbidity. At least among a population of mostly outpatients with MDD in medium-term follow-up, severity of depression and comorbidity appear to be more useful predictors of recurrence than does the number of prior episodes. These factors should influence clinical decision-making regarding the need for maintenance therapy.

Life events, social support, and onset of major depressive episode in Finnish patients.

We investigated differences in life events and social support between subgroups of depressed patients and the distribution of life events in phases preceding or during depression. In the Vantaa Depression Study, 269 psychiatric patients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder were diagnosed with Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, Version 2.0, and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R personality disorders (SCID-II). Life events during the 12 months preceding the interview were investigated with the Interview for Recent Life Events, and social support with the Interview Measure of Social Relationships and the Perceived Social Support Scale-Revised. Nearly all patients (91%) reported life events, on average 4.1 per preceding year. No major differences between sociodemographic or clinical subgroups were found; the frequency of events was somewhat greater among the younger subjects, whereas those with comorbid alcoholism or personality disorders perceived less social support. Although events were distributed evenly between the time preceding depression, the prodromal phase, and the index major depressive episode, two thirds of the patients attributed their depression to some event. Despite clinical and sociodemographic heterogeneity, patients with major depressive disorder are fairly homogeneous in terms of life events during the preceding year. Events do not cluster in any particular phase of the progression to an episode.

Suicidal ideation and attempts among psychiatric patients with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempts, or possible variations in them, among representative samples of psychiatric patients with major depressive disorder. METHOD: As part of the Vantaa Depression Study in Vantaa, Finland, 269 patients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder (MDD), diagnosed by interview using semistructured World Health Organization Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, version 2.0, and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders, were thoroughly investigated. Information was gathered on patients' levels of depression, anxiety, hopelessness, perceived social support, social and occupational functioning, and alcohol use. Suicidal behavior was assessed by interviews, including the Scale for Suicidal Ideation, and by information from psychiatric records. Data were gathered from Feb. 1, 1997, to May 31, 1998. RESULTS: During the current MDD episode, 58% of all patients had experienced suicidal ideation; among the 15% of the total who had attempted suicide, almost all (95%) had also had suicidal ideation. In nominal regression models predicting suicidal ideation, hopelessness, alcohol dependence or abuse, low level of social and occupational functioning, and poor perceived social support were found to be significant (p < .05) independent risk factors. High severity of depression and current alcohol dependence or abuse in particular, but also younger age and low level of social and occupational functioning, predicted suicide attempt. CONCLUSION: Suicidal ideation is prevalent and appears to be a precondition for suicide attempts among psychiatric patients with MDD. The risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempts locate in several clinical and psychosocial domains. While these risk factors largely overlap, the overall level of psychopathology of suicide attempters is higher compared with that in patients with ideation, and substance use disorders and severity of depression may be of particular importance in predicting suicide attempts.

Current comorbidity of psychiatric disorders among DSM-IV major depressive disorder patients in psychiatric care in the Vantaa Depression Study.

BACKGROUND: While numerous studies have documented the high comorbidity of major depressive disorder (MDD) with individual mental disorders, no published study has reported overall current comorbidity with all Axis I and II disorders among psychiatric patients with MDD, nor systematically investigated variations in current comorbidity by sociodemographic factors, inpatient versus outpatient status, and number of lifetime depressive episodes. METHOD: Psychiatric outpatients and inpatients in Vantaa, Finland, were prospectively screened for an episode of DSM-IV MDD, and 269 patients with a new episode of MDD were enrolled in the Vantaa Depression MDD Cohort Study. Axis I and II comorbidity was assessed via semistructured Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, version 2.0, and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-II-R personality disorders interviews. RESULTS: The great majority (79%) of patients with MDD suffered from 1 or more current comorbid mental disorders, including anxiety disorder (57%), alcohol use disorder (25%), and personality disorder (44%). Several anxiety disorders were associated with specific Axis II clusters, and panic disorder with agoraphobia was associated with inpatient status. The prevalence of personality disorders varied with inpatient versus outpatient status, number of lifetime depressive episodes, and type of residential area, and the prevalence of substance use disorders varied with gender and inpatient versus outpatient status. CONCLUSION: Most psychiatric patients with MDD have at least 1 current comorbid disorder. Comorbid disorders are associated not only with other comorbid disorders, but also with sociodemographic factors, inpatient versus outpatient status, and lifetime number of depressive episodes. The influence of these variations on current comorbidity patterns among MDD patients needs to be taken account of in treatment facilities.