Recovered from depression, but you still have some symptoms of your depression? This often happens: about one in three people have residual depressive symptoms after recovery. This is called partial remission or partial recovery. Here, you can find information about depression, partial recovery of depression, and treatment options.

About 1 in 3 people who have recovered from depression, still experience depressive symptoms.

Depression

One in five people will go through a depressive episodes during life. During a depressive episode, people often feel sad (e.g. empty or hopeless), or they have less interest or pleasure in activities. Professionals usually call this a depression when this feeling continues for two weeks, and at least five other characteristics of depression are present. These characteristics are:

     

     

     

Some of these characteristics can remain present after recovery from a depression. For example, someone could feel less sad, but still have problems with concentrating or remembering. This is called partial recovery of depression. Partially recovered depressed patients are at risk for a depressive relapse. To reduce the risk of relapse and investigate a new approach to target these residual depressive symptoms, the HERSTEL-study has been developed.

Treatment

Partial remission of depression is usually treated with continuation of current treatment, or a switch in medication or psychological treatment. However, the optimal treatment for partial recovery is yet unknown.

A new strategy to achieve full recovery and reduce the risk of relapse is investigated in the HERSTEL-study. This strategy combines relapse prevention training with serious games to train your brain.