Residual Symptoms and Relapse

Article AbstractRemission is the standard of care in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, even in patients who respond to treatment and achieve remission, residual symptoms significantly inhibit functionality and increase the risk of relapse and recurrence. The most common residual symptoms are fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive dysfunction. Clinicians should be cognizant of these potential residual symptoms and the unique ways in which they present in patients with MDD. Treating these symptoms as target symptoms from baseline increases the patient's chances of an asymptomatic remission. Making use of clinically practical screening instruments and monitoring these target symptoms throughout the course of treatment can improve patients†functional recovery. (J Clin Psychiatry 2013;74:9-13) From the Department of Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois. This article is derived from the planning teleconference series "Depression: Managing the Full Range of Symptoms to Achieve Lasting Remission," which was held in May and June 2013 and supported by an educational grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., US Region and Lundbeck. Dr Zajecka has received grants/research support from AstraZeneca, Cyberonics, Euthymics, Hoffmann-LaRoche, the National Institute of Mental Health, Otsuka, Shire, and Takeda and has served as a consultant for Abbott, Eli Lilly, Otsuka, Pamlab, Shire, and Takeda. Corresponding author: John M. Zajecka, MD, 1700 W Van Buren St, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60612 (john_zajecka@rush.edu). doi:10.4088/JCP.12084su1c.02 © Copyright 2013 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.