Citation

Thekiso TB, Heron EA, Masood B, Murphy M, McLoughlin DM, Kennedy N. J. Affect. Disord. 2013; 151(2): 455-460.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, St. Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. Electronic address: thekisot@tcd.ie.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2013.06.024

PMID

23948630

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of studies describing clinical characteristics and outcome of patients who present with mood disorders related to economic recession. AIMS: To describe a cohort of patients admitted with first-episode depression related to the Irish economic recession and compare this cohort with all other first-episode depressives admitted during the same time period (2009-2010). METHODS: A cohort of 137 patients admitted with first-episode depression to an independent university teaching hospital was prospectively identified and followed up from admission over 2 years (mean follow-up 430 days, s.d. 176 days). The cohort was divided into "Celtic Tiger" (patients with first-episode depression secondary to the economic recession) and non-Celtic Tiger control patients (other first-episode depressed patients). Both groups were compared in terms of clinical characteristics at baseline and outcome over follow-up. RESULTS: The number of admissions due to first depressive episodes were higher in recession years 2009/10 than in pre-recession years 2008/9. Celtic Tiger patients were predominantly male and more severely depressed with more marked suicidal ideation (χ(2), p<0.001) than control patients. They were more likely to recover (χ(2), p=0.013), less likely to recur (χ(2), p<0.001) and had faster time to recovery (log rank, p<0.001) and slower time to full recurrence (log rank, p=0.001). The Celtic Tiger patients spent more time asymptomatic and less time at full and subthreshold depression levels over follow-up. LIMITATIONS: Study setting of centre specializing in affective disorders treatment, retrospective nature of follow-up after initial prospective interview and lack of patient follow-up interview. CONCLUSION: The study describes a subgroup of patients with severe depression associated with economic recession with likely high suicide risk but very favourable outcome.

Language: en