Psychiatry Research
Volume 144, Issue 2 , Pages 191-196, 15 November 2006

Double depression in adult psychiatric outpatients in Brazil: Distinct from major depression?

  • Jill M. Holm-Denoma

      Affiliations

    • Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
    • ,
  • Marcelo T. Berlim

      Affiliations

    • University of Rio Grande do Sul and Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil
    • ,
  • Marcelo P.A. Fleck

      Affiliations

    • University of Rio Grande do Sul and Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil
    • ,
  • Thomas E. Joiner Jr.

      Affiliations

    • Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1270, USA. Tel.: +1 850 644 1454; fax: +1 850 644 7739.

Received 14 September 2004; received in revised form 14 June 2005; accepted 20 June 2005.

Abstract 

This study examines whether distinct symptom profiles, patterns of comorbidity, and suicidal symptoms uniquely characterize individuals diagnosed with double depression (DD) by comparing Brazilians with DD to those with major depressive disorder (MDD). One hundred forty two psychiatric outpatients (ages 20–77 mean=48.8, S.D.=13.2; DD, n=23; MDD, n=119) participated in structured diagnostic interviews and completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms, suicidality, and family history of mental disorders. Patients with DD exhibited a more severe symptom profile than those with MDD, as evidenced by a higher number of depressive symptoms and more intense suicidal ideation. They also appeared to be qualitatively different from individuals with MDD, as evidenced by distinct comorbidity patterns, quality of life reports, and anhedonic features. These results may be important in understanding the phenomenology of DD in psychiatric outpatients by informing diagnostics, psychotherapy, and psychotherapeutic treatment of DD.

Keywords: Diagnosis, Mood disorders

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PII: S0165-1781(05)00410-5

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2005.06.011

Psychiatry Research
Volume 144, Issue 2 , Pages 191-196, 15 November 2006

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