Dépressions récurrentes

Since about ten years, the depressive disorders are better understood: the short-term perspective only focused on the depressive episode has evolved towards a long-term perspective that considers the recurrent pattern which characterizes most unipolar major depressive disorders. Multiple and combined factors are involved in the recurrence process. These disorders have long been under-diagnosed and under-treated, associated with a pejorative prognosis; today they are considered chronic diseases as disabling as diabetes or hypertension. Their treatment aims at obtaining recovery from the depressive episode and, at longer term, preventing recurrences. They are firstly based on combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. During the next decade, unipolar depressive disorders will become the second disease worldwide in terms of overall cost.