Unfortunately, many patients who remit fully or partially from an episode of major depression continue to have difficulty in achieving the recovery.

Our study assesses the effect of some probable risk factors on the non-recovery in a group of major depressive patients.

Sixty patients, 18 to 65 years of age, with current major depressive disorder defined using DSM-IV-TR criteria were participated in the study. They began a 24-week course of open-label acute plus continuation phase treatment mainly with SSRIs, especially escitalopram. Maintenance treatment was not planned for not affecting the natural course. All participants were evaluated by CGI-S, BDI, HAMD-17, PSQI, and ISI at weeks 0, 4, 12, 24, and 52.

Logistic regression analysis was done to predict the effect of some probable risk factors that obtained from 1st evaluation (at week 0) on the non-recovery (at week 52) and current age, number of previous episodes, age of first depressive episode, and episode type (first-episode versus double or chronic or recurrent) were found to be statistically significant.

Early recognition of the socio-demographic and clinical risk factors impairing the recovery process of the major depressive disorder may be important for developing an individualised treatment plan.