Prodromal Symptoms and Initial Episode of Depression-Genetic and Emotional Correlations

The study based on the theoretical conceptualizations of prodromal symptoms, the course of depressive episodes, genetic and emotional vulnerability to depression, aimed to explore the relations between these variables. Data were collected from 139 patients with light and medium intensity depressive episodes by using interviews elaborated according to the DSM-IV-R (2000) and the Research Diagnostic Criteria, SADS-L (Endicott and Spitzer, 1978). By confirming the assumptions, the obtained results contribute to a better understanding of the natural course of depressive disorders, to early diagnosis and management of difficulties subsequent to acute depressive episodes.