The Search for Consistency in Residual Symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder: A Narrative Review

Residual symptoms are prevalent in major depressive disorder (MDD), encompassing a wide spectrum of symptoms such as sleep disturbances, changes in weight and appetite, cognitive impairment, and anxiety. These symptoms consistently impair daily functioning, diminish quality of life, and forecast dis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personalized medicine 2024-08, Vol.14 (8), p.828
Main Authors: Pastuszak, Michał, Cubała, Wiesław Jerzy, Kwaśny, Aleksander, Mechlińska, Agnieszka
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antidepressants
Anxiety
Appetite
Decision making
Disease
Emotions
Insomnia
Medical screening
Medical treatment
Mental depression
Patients
Quality of life
Remission (Medicine)
Review
Sleep
Sleep disorders
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Summary:Residual symptoms are prevalent in major depressive disorder (MDD), encompassing a wide spectrum of symptoms such as sleep disturbances, changes in weight and appetite, cognitive impairment, and anxiety. These symptoms consistently impair daily functioning, diminish quality of life, and forecast disease relapse. Despite their clinical significance, residual symptoms lack a unified definition, potentially leading to confusion with treatment-emergent symptoms and ambiguity across studies, thereby hindering the generalizability of research findings. While some research identifies insomnia and mood disturbances as critical indicators, other studies emphasize different symptoms or find no significant correlation. Inconsistencies in defining residual symptoms, as well as methodological differences across studies, contribute to these conflicting results. While clinicians focus on alleviating negative symptoms to improve functional status, patients often prioritize achieving positive affect and overall well-being as essential components of successful treatment. It necessitates a comprehensive approach to patient care in depression. This review explores the phenomenon of residual symptoms in MDD, focusing on the ambiguity in definitions, clinical characteristics, and their impact on long-term outcomes. The lack of a standardized regulatory or academic definition for residual symptoms leads to varied interpretations among clinicians, underscoring the need for standardized terminology to guide effective treatment strategies and future research.
ISSN:2075-4426
2075-4426
DOI:10.3390/jpm14080828