Outcome of anxiety and depression in general health care:a three-wave 3.5-year study of psychopathology, disability and life stress

The outcome of anxiety and depression in general health care settings was examined. At follow-up, many cases no longer met the criteria of their baseline diagnosis and disability levels had substantially dropped. However, partial remission, not full recovery, was the rule, and was associated with residual disability. Depression had better outcomes than anxiety; mixed anxiety/depression did worst. Life events often triggered improvement except amongst mixed anxiety/depression patients.