The well-being of community residents in remission from major depression disorder

Abstract

This study hypothesized that the well-being of community residents in remission from major depression disorder (MDD) would not be significantly different from those without MDD. Data from the Midlife in the United States Survey (MIDUS), a prospective general population survey conducted in 1995 and 2004, were analysed. A comparison of the psychological well-being scores, Big Five personality scores and life satisfaction scores of remitted and non-remitted respondents revealed generally small effect size differences. The remitted group were more likely than the non-remitted group to have had past-year panic disorder at follow-up. In general, these results suggest that the well-being of respondents in MDD remission was relatively high.

Keywords:

• major depression
• remission
• well-being