A Randomized Trial of Relapse Prevention of Depression in Primary Care

Abstract
OVER THE LAST decade clinicians and researchers have recognized that for most patients major depression will have either a relapsing/remitting or chronic course much like asthma. Researchers have found that the risk of relapse after having experienced 1 episode of major depression is 50% and after 2 is 80%.1,2 Moreover, about 10% to 20% of patients have a chronic depressive course.3 The recognition of the high degree of relapse and/or chronicity in many patients has led to specialty-based trials of continuation and maintenance antidepressant medication.