Background Remission is a common outcome of short-term trials and the main
goal of acute and longterm treatment. The longitudinal stability of remission
has rarely been investigated under naturalistic treatment conditions. Methods
Naturalistic multisite follow-up study. Three-year symptomatic long-term
outcome of initially hospitalized tertiary care patients (N = 784) with major
depressive episodes. Remission rates as well as the switch rates between
remission and non-remission were reported. Results After one, two and three
years 62 %, 59 % and 69 % of the observed patients met criteria for remission.
During the follow-up 88 % of all patients achieved remission. 36 % of
maintained remission from discharge to 3-years, 12 % of all patients never
reached remission and 52 % percent showed a fluctuating course switching from
remission to non-remission and vice versa. There was considerable transition
between remission and non-remission. For example, from discharge to 1 year,
from 1 to 2, and from 2 to 3 years 25 %, 21 % and 11 % lost remission.
Conclusion Cumulative outcome rates are encouraging. Absolute rates at
predefined endpoints as well as the fluctuations between these outcomes
reflect the variable and chronic nature of major depression