Clinical studies conducted in North America reported a
chronic course in 54% and 60% of their samples consisting of (major) depressive patients (14,15).
When comparing the occurrence of suicide attempts to the course cluster of depression, we found a nonsignificant trend towards a higher risk in
chronic course. There were 16/51 (31%) suicide attempters in the group with short-term course with or without recurrence and 13/24 (54%) in the group with
chronic course with or without late remission (Fisher's exact test = 0.077).
Also, longer duration and higher severity of pain were significantly associated with having a
chronic course of depression and/or anxiety.
BCS showed a severe and
chronic course because of insidious progress of HPS.
Onset is generally in childhood or adolescence, and a
chronic course is typical.
(1) The natural history of lumbar spinal stenosis has been described as a
chronic course over years without rapid deterioration of clinical or functional statuses.
The condition typically follows a
chronic course, with a triad of swelling, subcutaneous nodules and draining sinuses.
"The presence of anxiety results in longer depressive episodes, a more
chronic course of major depressive disorder, worse psychosocial impairment, reduced chance of recovery from the initial episode of major depressive disorder, and an increased risk of suicide," Dr.
An episodic rather than a
chronic course also was significantly more likely to occur in adolescents with the disorder than among children with it (77% vs.
"Treatment response is usually excellent, but occasionally you will have patients who have a
chronic course," Dr.
Eighty percent of patients die within 1 year of onset, with the rest following a more
chronic course. (6) Japanese forms of CJD have a much longer duration, with patients living beyond 4 years.
SAD has an earlier age of onset than the other anxiety disorders and has a
chronic course.
