Recurrent Brief Depression: A Frequent Syndrome in Clinical Practice

Recurrent brief depression (RBD) is not a new artificial group of depression syndromes, but an important, frequently overlooked and clearly identified subcategory of depressive disorders. The symptoms do not differ from major depression; however, the duration of the brief episodes usually lasts 1 &#45 3 days. The patient can suffer from both brief and longer manifestations of depression and therefore qualify for both diagnoses: major depression on the one hand/or RBD on the other. If the patient suffers from both conditions the case is more severe, with higher social impairment and higher suicidal risk. Epidemiological studies carried out in different parts of the world indicated a prevalence rate of RBD of between 5% and 10% of patients seeking help in general practice. Unfortunately there is no clear treatment as yet established for RBD, although about 50% of these patients are given psychotropic drugs by practitioners. Controlled trials with antidepressants did not show a beneficial effect and there is no hint in the literature as to whether psychological therapies might be helpful. There is a need for further treatment studies in this important form of depression, which is categorizable within the depressive spectrum. ( Int J Psych Clin Pract 2000; 4: 195-199).