Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients with the first depressive episode and recurrent depression

Objective To comparare socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with the first depressive episode and recurrent depression. Material and methods Three hundred and twenty one patients with unipolar depression, including 96 patients with first depressive episode and 225 patients with recurrent depression, were examined using clinical and psychometric methods. Results and conclusion There were differences in clinical characteristics between groups but such factors as gender, marital status, level of education, family history of mental disorders and personality were similar. With each new episode of recurrent depression, the next episode tends to be more severe with more intense pessimistic and suicidal thoughts but fewer anxiety and complaints of depressive mood that affects the differences and requires further research, especially considering the effect of therapy.