![]() A number of studies indicate that the speed of onset of a depressive episode is a clinical characteristic useful for indicating a hidden bipolarity even when no manic episode has occurred so far. The development of depressive episodes from first symptoms to full-blown symptomatology can be very rapid, taking less than 1 hour in some patients, or very slow, taking up to months. While some studies have examined the relationship between stressful life events that occurred before the onset of the depressive episode and speed of recovery of these episodes, a systematic investigation on the influence of acute life events on the speed of onset of depression has not been performed so far. One possible important aspect in this process is to investigate the association between clinical life events and the speed of onset of a depressive episode. This supports the approach that further investigations on the link between critical life events and the onset of depression must also consider subtle differences in the onset, development and clinical presentation of depressive episodes. In summary, the role of critical life events in the development of a depression seems dependent on multiple factors and has not yet been conclusively clarified. In this context it is important to note that individuals have been shown to be more sensitive to the effects of minor life events after having a depressive episode such that minor events in the sense of life events not exceeding a mildly stressing level predict recurrence of depression for medicated patients over 3 years and are more likely to predict recurrence of depression than the first onset of a depressive episode. melancholic subtype) show a different vulnerability to critical live events. ![]() However, there are also indications that certain depressive subtypes (e.g. ![]() Further there is a consistent evidence for a dose-response relationship between stressful events and depression, with severe events more strongly associated with depression than non-severe events. īrown and Harris determined that life events that occur in the 6 months prior to depression onset in contrast to life events going further back in time than 6 months are the most central in precipitating that onset. So far, the causes for these gender differences are still unclear. Stressful life events often precede the onset of depression and this relationship appears to be more pronounced in women than in men. Speed of onset of depression is not strongly influenced by external trigger e.g. The association between the number of acute critical life events in the half-year period preceding the onset of unipolar depressive disorders and speed of onset for the current depressive episode was neither dependent from gender nor the presence of prior depressive episodes. Faster onset of the current depressive episode was significantly associated with a higher number of acute minor life events (β = − 0.23 p = 0.02), but overall fast onset of a depressive episode was not significantly associated with more acute critical life events in the six months before the onset of the depression. 22 patients (22.0%) had a fast onset of depression (≤ 7 days). Resultsĩ6 of 100 (96.0%) patients had at least one acute critical life event within six months prior to first symptoms of a depressive episode. Acute critical life events occurring within the last 6 months before the onset of first depressive symptoms were assessed using the Munich Interview for the Assessment of Life Events and Conditions. Speed of onset of depression was assessed using the patient interview “Onset of Depression Inventory”. Therefore, aim of this investigation was to analyse the effects of acute critical life events on the speed of onset of depressive episodes. The role of acute critical life events as an external trigger for a fast onset of the depression is unclear so far. A series of studies indicate that a fast onset of a depressive episode (within 7 days) is a clinical variable useful for indicating bipolarity even when no manic episode has occurred to date. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |