THE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY OF CLINICAL DEPRESSION

Clinical depression is associated with social, occupational and physical impairment and mortality. Furthermore, data are reviewed which have related the severity of depressive symptoms, such as anhedonia, psychic anxiety, panic attacks, alcohol abuse, insomnia and diminished concentration in depressed patients, to suicide within 1 year. By contrast, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and prior suicide attempts were related to suicide within 2-10 years after examination, but did not correlate with suicide within the first year of follow-up. It is concluded that clinical depression continues to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality, despite progress which has been made in its treatment.