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Cited by 375Mental Health Treatment and AccessTreatment of Major DepressionAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 74 of the 74 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Estimating remission from untreated major depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Whiteford, H. A., Harris, M. G., McKeon, G., Baxter, A., Pennell, C., Barendregt, J. J., Wang, J.·2013·Psychological Medicine
DOI 10.1017/s0033291712001717
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Abstract

Background: Few studies have examined spontaneous remission from major depression. This study investigated the proportion of prevalent cases of untreated major depression that will remit without treatment in a year, and whether remission rates vary by disorder severity. Method: Wait-list controlled trials and observational cohort studies published up to 2010 with data describing remission from untreated depression at ⩽2-year follow-up were identified. Remission was defined as rescinded diagnoses or below threshold scores on standardized symptom measures. Nineteen studies were included in a regression model predicting the probability of 12-month remission from untreated depression, using logit transformed remission proportion as the dependent variable. Covariates included age, gender, study type and diagnostic measure. Results: Wait-listed compared to primary-care samples, studies with longer follow-up duration and older adult compared to adult samples were associated with lower probability of remission. Child and adolescent samples were associated with higher probability of remission. Based on adult samples recruited from primary-care settings, the model estimated that 23% of prevalent cases of untreated depression will remit within 3 months, 32% within 6 months and 53% within 12 months. Conclusions: It is undesirable to expect 100% treatment coverage for depression, given many will remit before access to services is feasible. Data were drawn from consenting wait-list and primary-care samples, which potentially over-represented mild-to-moderate cases of depression. Considering reported rates of spontaneous remission, a short untreated period seems defensible for this subpopulation, where judged appropriate by the clinician. Conclusions may not apply to individuals with more severe depression.

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Crossref · 10.1017/s0033291712001717

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Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. 2009, NICE Clinical Guideline 90. Depression: The Treatment and Management of Depression in Adults (partial update of NICE Clinical Guideline 23)
  2. Schorer, 1970, Improvement with and without psychotherapy, Diseases of the Nervous System, 31, 155
  3. Hohman, 1938, A review of 144 cases of affective disorders after seven years, American Journal of Psychiatry, 94, 304
  4. 2008, The Global Burden of Disease 2004 Update
  5. Mendlewicz, 2009, Defining remission in depression: the challenge of complete recovery, Medicographia, 31, 113
  6. Andrews, 2007, Tolkien II: A Needs-based, Costed, Stepped-care Model for Mental Health Services

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Metadata

Authors
Whiteford, H. A., Harris, M. G., McKeon, G., Baxter, A., Pennell, C., Barendregt, J. J., & Wang, J.
Affiliations
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
  • Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (AU)
  • University of Calgary (CA)
Corresponding author
Whiteford, H. A.
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Medicine
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2012-08-10
Volume
43
Issue
8
Pages
1569-1585
ISSN
  • 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8978
DOI
10.1017/s0033291712001717
OpenAlex
W2039156670
Cited by
375
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
FWCI
1.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified)
Locations
  • Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Queensland
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
major depressive disorder, spontaneous regression, untreated depression, remission rate, disorder severity, primary care, child and adolescent depression, treatment coverage
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Child, Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Remission, Spontaneous

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