<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p><bold>Background:</bold> Major depressive disorder (MDD) in young patients represents a real public health problem, with a concerning increase in its prevalence. <bold>Aim of the study:</bold> To observe and to document relevant information regarding the particularities and the evolutive clinical patterns of MDD in young patients (18–50 years). <bold>Material and methods:</bold> We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study on 68 patients diagnosed with MDD, aged 18–50 years, admitted to the First Department of Psychiatry of the Clinical County Hospital of Târgu Mureș, Romania between January 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020. Data regarding the patients’ psychiatric evaluation (primary and secondary diagnosis, relapses, associated personality disorders, autolytic attempts, treatment options, evolution, comorbidities) and psychological evaluation (HAM-D, HAM-A, GAF) were analyzed. <bold>Results:</bold> The highest prevalence of MDD was found in the 41–50 years age group (66%), followed by the 31–40 years age group (24%). Regarding the GAF and HAM-D scales, 90% of patients had scores in the range of 41–50 and >20 respectively. We found a high prevalence of personality disorders (75%), the most common being borderline personality disorder (27%). Younger patients (18–35 years) tended to recover quicker, with an average of 8.15 hospitalization days compared to older patients (36–50 years) who had an average of 12 days. Relapses were present in 55% of cases, being more frequent in women, and there was a 50% rate of relapse in subjects with no social support network. Autolytic attempts were present in 25% of cases and insomnia in 92%. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> MDD has a major impact on the patients’ global functionality and their quality of life. In our study, women were more vulnerable to develop MDD, while younger adults were less prone to develop MDD and they recovered more quickly.</p>
</abstract>

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) in young patients represents a real public health problem, with a concerning increase in its prevalence. Aim of the study: To observe and to document relevant information regarding the particularities and the evolutive clinical patterns of MDD in young patients (18–50 years). Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study on 68 patients diagnosed with MDD, aged 18–50 years, admitted to the First Department of Psychiatry of the Clinical County Hospital of Târgu Mureș, Romania between January 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020. Data regarding the patients’ psychiatric evaluation (primary and secondary diagnosis, relapses, associated personality disorders, autolytic attempts, treatment options, evolution, comorbidities) and psychological evaluation (HAM-D, HAM-A, GAF) were analyzed. Results: The highest prevalence of MDD was found in the 41–50 years age group (66%), followed by the 31–40 years age group (24%). Regarding the GAF and HAM-D scales, 90% of patients had scores in the range of 41–50 and >20 respectively. We found a high prevalence of personality disorders (75%), the most common being borderline personality disorder (27%). Younger patients (18–35 years) tended to recover quicker, with an average of 8.15 hospitalization days compared to older patients (36–50 years) who had an average of 12 days. Relapses were present in 55% of cases, being more frequent in women, and there was a 50% rate of relapse in subjects with no social support network. Autolytic attempts were present in 25% of cases and insomnia in 92%. Conclusions: MDD has a major impact on the patients’ global functionality and their quality of life. In our study, women were more vulnerable to develop MDD, while younger adults were less prone to develop MDD and they recovered more quickly.

Evolutive Pattern of Major Depressive Disorder among Young Patients

“George Emil Palade” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Science and Technology

Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Evolutive Pattern of Major Depressive Disorder among Young Patients"}

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) in young patients represents a real public health problem, with a concerning increase in its prevalence. Aim of the...

Evolutive Pattern of Major Depressive Disorder among Young Patients

Published Online: May 31, 2022

Page range: 8 - 12

Received: Mar 09, 2022

Accepted: Mar 25, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jim-2022-0005

Keywords
major depressive disorder, disability, quality of life

© 2022 Andreea Sălcudean et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Evolutive Pattern of Major Depressive Disorder among Young Patients

Published Online: May 31, 2022

Page range: 8 - 12

Received: Mar 09, 2022

Accepted: Mar 25, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jim-2022-0005

Keywordsmajor depressive disorder, disability, quality of life

© 2022 Andreea Sălcudean et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
major depressive disorder, disability, quality of life