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. 1986 Feb;16(1):117-26.
doi: 10.1017/s0033291700057809.

Diagnosis and outcome: depression and anxiety in a general population

J M Murphy, D C Olivier, A M Sobol, R R Monson, A H Leighton

Diagnosis and outcome: depression and anxiety in a general population

J M Murphy et al. Psychol Med. 1986 Feb.

Abstract

An assessment of the long-term outcome for depression and anxiety disorders in a general population was made as part of the Stirling County Study. Measuring outcome as a dichotomy between experiencing recurrent episodes or not during a 17-year cohort interval, it was found that 56% of the 'cases' had a poor prognosis. While sex, age and level of severity were not significantly related to outcome, an initial diagnosis of depression was predictive of unfavourable prognosis. Only a few of these 'cases' received psychiatric specialty treatment. Some disorders in the community appear, however, to be as serious as those that come to the attention of psychiatrists.

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