Remission of symptoms is not equal to functional recovery: Psychosocial functioning impairment in major depression

Abstract

The ultimate goal of depression treatment is to achieve functional recovery. Psychosocial functioning is the main component of functional impairment in depressed patients. The concept of psychosocial functioning has an early origin; however, its concept and connotation are still ambiguous, which is the basic and key problem faced by the relevant research and clinical application. In this study, we start from the paradox of symptoms remission and functional recovery, describe the concept, connotation, and characteristics of psychosocial functioning impairment in depressed patients, and re-emphasize its importance in depression treatment to promote research and clinical applications related to psychosocial functioning impairment in depressed patients to achieve functional recovery.

Determinants of quality of life improvements in anxiety and depressive disorders—A longitudinal study of inpatient psychotherapy

“…Our results suggest that clinical symptoms and general QoL improve more rapidly than environmental or even social subdomains of QoL. This is reflected in the psychosocial functioning of patients, which often does not improve for some time after symptom remission ( 61 ), and moderate psychosocial impairments may persist even after short-term treatments.…”

Goal Attainment Scaling for Depression: Validation of the Japanese GAS-D Tool in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

“…Thus, clinical studies using the GAS-D as a key outcome measure may need to be longer than the current study to pick up the full efficacy of a treatment on goal attainment. In this respect, the time lag between symptom control and functional improvement is already well known, 32 and the idea that goal achievement and functional improvement track together is supported by the gradual strengthening of the relationship between goal attainment and functional improvement on SDS over time.…”

Effectiveness of Vortioxetine in Working Patients with Major Depressive Disorder in China: A Subgroup Analysis of the RELIEVE China Study

“… 31 However, functional impairment may persist after other symptoms have resolved. 30 , 32 , 33 This is of clinical significance, as residual functional impairment has been shown to predict subsequent relapse. 34 …”