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Cited by 431Treatment of Major DepressionAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

How Should Remission From Depression Be Defined? The Depressed Patient’s Perspective

Zimmerman, Mark, McGlinchey, Joseph B., Posternak, Michael A., Friedman, Michael, Attiullah, Naureen, Boerescu, Daniela·2006·American Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1176/appi.ajp.163.1.148
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Although experts in the treatment of depression have suggested that achieving remission is the primary goal of treatment, questions remain about how remission should be defined. In antidepressant efficacy trials, remission is defined according to scores on symptom severity scales. Normalization of functioning is often mentioned as an important component of remission, although it is not used to identify patients with remission in treatment studies. The authors' goal was to determine what depressed patients consider important in defining remission from depression. METHOD: A brief questionnaire was distributed to 535 psychiatric outpatients who were being treated for DSM-IV major depressive episode. They were asked to rate the importance of 16 statements in determining whether depression is in remission. RESULTS: The three items most frequently judged to be very important in determining remission were the presence of features of positive mental health such as optimism and self-confidence; a return to one's usual, normal self; and a return to usual level of functioning. The patients endorsed a statement about absence of symptoms with nearly similar frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Patients aspire to a range of outcomes from the treatment of their depression.

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  • Patients with depression more often rated factors other than symptom reduction as very important in determining remission.

    “Recent research has indicated that with respect to depression, patients more frequently rated factors other than symptom reduction as being very important in determining whether they had achieved remission (e.g., a return to usual functioning and features of positive mental health including optimism, vigor, and self-confidence; Zimmerman et al., 2006).”

    From An Integrated, Acceptance-Based Behavioral Approach for Depression With Social Anxiety: Preliminary Results (2014) · cites this paper as Zimmerman et al., 2006

  • The description of gains as 'Tools to handle life' is congruent with the suggestion that environmental mastering and self-confidence are central domains for recovery and psychological well-being.

    “which is congruent with the suggestion that environmental mastering and self-confidence are central domains for recovery and psychological well-being [26,27]”

    From Helpful and hindering factors for remission in dysthymia and panic disorder at 9-year follow-up: A mixed methods study (2008) · cites this paper as [27]

  • Client definitions of recovery from depression focus more on desired positive outcomes than symptom relief.

    “Further, client definitions of recovery from depression focus more on desired positive outcomes than symptom relief (Zimmerman et al., 2006) and participants in the case series reported particularly valuing the wellbeing focus of ADepT.”

    From Bringing light into darkness: A multiple baseline mixed methods case series evaluation of Augmented Depression Therapy (ADepT) (2019) · cites this paper as Zimmerman et al., 2006

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Authors
Zimmerman, M., McGlinchey, J. B., Posternak, M. A., Friedman, M., Attiullah, N., & Boerescu, D.
Affiliations
Brown University (US)
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Published
2006-01-01
Volume
163
Issue
1
Pages
148-150
ISSN
  • 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-7228
DOI
10.1176/appi.ajp.163.1.148
OpenAlex
W2115905656
Cited by
431
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 21
FWCI
6.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
depression remission, remission definition, patient perspectives, major depressive episode, positive mental health, optimism, self-confidence, antidepressant efficacy, treatment goals, psychiatric outpatients
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Ambulatory Care, Aspirations, Psychological, Attitude to Health, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Terminology as Topic, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Treatment Outcome

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