The similarities and dissimilarities between community and clinic cases of depression

Abstract

It has been hypothesised that community cases of depression compared with clinic cases: (a) have fewer symptoms; (b) have milder symptoms; (c) have different symptoms; (d) are of shorter duration; (e) are less incapacitating; (f) are more environmentally and less biologically caused; and (g) respond better to psychological than pharmacological intervention. A review of the literature indicates that some of these hypotheses have not been tested, others have not been adequately tested, and none has been unequivocally confirmed. Further investigations of these important issues are required.