Understanding Clinical Depression: Prognosis, Recovery & Treatment

Clinical depression is a serious and potentially deadly mood disorder. Treatment, however, is highly effective and is likely the key to recovery. Untreated depression consistently leads to increased symptoms, diminished prognosis and greater risk of mortality.

Duration

• The University of Calgary finds the likelihood of recovery is related to the length of depressive episodes, suggesting clinical depression recovery is more likely when symptom duration is brief.

Recovery

• The National Guideline Clearinghouse reports recurrence of illness is likely, but nearly all treated individuals will experience depression recovery.

Psychotherapy

• Investigators for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services find psychotherapy more than doubles the likelihood of recovery in older adults with clinical depression.

Untreated

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness warns untreated major depression worsens in time, resulting in more acute symptoms occurring with greater frequency.

Suicide

• The National Institute of Mental Health asserts that depression sufferers, particularly those with previous attempts, are at greater risk of suicide.