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Article
The role of depression course on life functioning and coping outcomes from baseline through 23-year follow-up
Journal of Mental Health
  • Erin Woodhead, San Jose State University
  • Ruth Cronkite, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
  • Andrea Finlay, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
  • Jessie Wong, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
  • Marie Haverfield, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
  • Christine Timko, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Document Type
Article
DOI
10.1080/09638237.2020.1793127
Abstract

Background: Although studies have examined how depressed patients’ baseline characteristics predict depression course, still needed are studies of how depression course is associated with modifiable long-term outcomes. Aims: This study examined six outcomes of three groups representing distinct depression courses (low baseline severity, rapid decline; moderate baseline severity, rapid decline; and high baseline severity, slow decline): medical functioning, coping patterns, family functioning, social functioning, employment, and work functioning. Method: Adults with depression at baseline (N = 382; 56% women) were followed for 23 years on self-reported outcomes (79% response rate). Data from the baseline assessment and follow-ups (1, 4, 10, and 23 years) were used in a longitudinal analysis to examine associations between depression course and outcomes. Results: All depression course groups declined on medical and social functioning and employment over follow-up. The high- and moderate-severity depression course groups reported poorer coping patterns than the low-severity group. The high-severity depression course group reported poorer family functioning than the moderate-severity group, and had the poorest work functioning outcome, followed by the moderate-severity and then the low-severity groups. Conclusions: Patients with a high- or moderate-severity depression course may benefit from treatment that manages coping patterns and improves family and work functioning.

Funding Number
AA002863
Funding Sponsor
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Keywords
  • coping,
  • Depression course,
  • functioning,
  • medical,
  • mental health,
  • treatment
Citation Information
Erin Woodhead, Ruth Cronkite, Andrea Finlay, Jessie Wong, et al.. "The role of depression course on life functioning and coping outcomes from baseline through 23-year follow-up" Journal of Mental Health (2020) p. 1 - 9
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/erin_woodhead/39/