[The diagnosis and prognosis of depressive disorders in a community clinic].

To understand the prognosis and stability of diagnosis of depressive disorders, a follow-up study was carried out in a community clinic. The sample includes of 90 cases whose original psychiatric diagnosis were 38 depressive disorders (16 depression and 22 depressive neurosis) and 52 non-depressive neurosis. Eight years later, rediagnosis was made by using the same assessment instruments and diagnostic criteria. The results suggest that the diagnosis are quite stable and the Kappa tests show the predictive validity of diagnosis is 0. 73 in depression and 0.84 in depressive neurosis. Besides a few differences both depression and depressive neurosis have similar characteristics in clinical features, prognosis and outcome.