查看文章

Whether course trajectories of depressive and anxiety disorders are different, remains an important question for clinical practice and informs future psychiatric nosology. This longitudinal study compares depressive and anxiety disorders in terms of diagnostic and symptom course trajectories, and examines clinical prognostic factors.

Data are from 1209 depressive and/or anxiety patients residing in primary and specialized care settings, participating in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. Diagnostic and Life Chart Interviews provided 2-year course information.

Course was more favorable for pure depression (n=267, median episode duration=6months, 24.5% chronic) than for pure anxiety (n=487, median duration=16months, 41.9% chronic). Worst course was observed in the comorbid depression–anxiety group (n=455, median duration >24months, 56.8% chronic …