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Minor depression in family practice: functional morbidity, co-morbidity, service utilization and outcomes.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wagner, HR; Burns, BJ; Broadhead, WE; Yarnall, KS; Sigmon, A; Gaynes, BN
Published in: Psychol Med
November 2000

BACKGROUND: Minor depression is a disabling condition commonly seen in primary care settings. Although considerable impairment is associated with minor depression, little is known about the course of the illness. Using a variety of clinical and functional measurements, this paper profiles the course of minor depression over a 1 year interval among a cohort of primary care patients. METHOD: Patients at a university-based primary care facility were screened for potential cases of depression and selected into three diagnostic categories: an asymptomatic control group; patients with a diagnosis of major depression; and, a third category, defined as minor depression, consisting of patients who reported between two and four symptoms of depression, but who failed to qualify for a diagnosis of major depression. Functional status, service use, and physical, social and mental health were assessed at baseline and at 3-month intervals for the ensuing year. RESULTS: Respondents with a baseline diagnosis of minor depression exhibited marked impairment on most measures both at baseline and over the following four waves. Their responses in most respects were similar to, although not as severe as, those of respondents with a baseline diagnosis of major depression. Both groups were considerably more impaired than asymptomatic controls. CONCLUSIONS: Minor depression is a persistently disabling condition often seen in primary care settings. Although quantitatively less severe than major depression, it is qualitatively similar and requires careful assessment and close monitoring over the course of the illness.

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Published In

Psychol Med

DOI

ISSN

0033-2917

Publication Date

November 2000

Volume

30

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1377 / 1390

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Sick Leave
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Prospective Studies
  • Outpatients
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • North Carolina
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
 

Citation

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Wagner, H. R., Burns, B. J., Broadhead, W. E., Yarnall, K. S., Sigmon, A., & Gaynes, B. N. (2000). Minor depression in family practice: functional morbidity, co-morbidity, service utilization and outcomes. Psychol Med, 30(6), 1377–1390. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291799002998
Wagner, H. R., B. J. Burns, W. E. Broadhead, K. S. Yarnall, A. Sigmon, and B. N. Gaynes. “Minor depression in family practice: functional morbidity, co-morbidity, service utilization and outcomes.Psychol Med 30, no. 6 (November 2000): 1377–90. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291799002998.
Wagner HR, Burns BJ, Broadhead WE, Yarnall KS, Sigmon A, Gaynes BN. Minor depression in family practice: functional morbidity, co-morbidity, service utilization and outcomes. Psychol Med. 2000 Nov;30(6):1377–90.
Wagner, H. R., et al. “Minor depression in family practice: functional morbidity, co-morbidity, service utilization and outcomes.Psychol Med, vol. 30, no. 6, Nov. 2000, pp. 1377–90. Pubmed, doi:10.1017/s0033291799002998.
Wagner HR, Burns BJ, Broadhead WE, Yarnall KS, Sigmon A, Gaynes BN. Minor depression in family practice: functional morbidity, co-morbidity, service utilization and outcomes. Psychol Med. 2000 Nov;30(6):1377–1390.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychol Med

DOI

ISSN

0033-2917

Publication Date

November 2000

Volume

30

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1377 / 1390

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Sick Leave
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Prospective Studies
  • Outpatients
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • North Carolina
  • Middle Aged
  • Male