Abstract
BACKGROUND: The diagnostic stability of the ICD-10 diagnosis of depressive disorder has not been investigated in clinical practice.
SAMPLING AND METHODS: All patients who were diagnosed with depressive disorder at least once in a period from 1994 to 2002 in psychiatric out- or inpatient settings in Denmark were identified in a nationwide register.
RESULTS: A total of 39,741 patients were diagnosed with depressive disorder at least once; among these, 81% were diagnosed at the first contact. In approximately 56% of patients, the initial diagnosis of depressive disorder eventually changed during follow-up mainly to the schizophrenic spectrum (16%), but also to personality disorders (9%), neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (8%) and to bipolar disorder (8%). Among the 18% of patients who were later diagnosed with depressive disorder, 23% initially had a diagnosis of adjustment disorder.
CONCLUSIONS: When the ICD-10 diagnoses are used in clinical practice, the diagnosis of depressive disorder has a low stability over time. These findings emphasize the need for a longitudinally based diagnostic process in the diagnostic systems.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Tidsskrift | Psychopathology |
Vol/bind | 38 |
Udgave nummer | 1 |
Sider (fra-til) | 32-7 |
Antal sider | 6 |
ISSN | 0254-4962 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 17 feb. 2005 |