The relationship between depressive symptoms, general psychopathology, and well‐being in patients with major depressive disorder

OBJECTIVE: In mental health care, treatment effects are commonly monitored by symptom severity measures. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between symptom severity and well‐being in the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Adult MDD outpatients (n = 77) were administered the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology—Self‐Report (QIDS‐SR), the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ‐45), and the Mental Health Continuum‐Short Form (MHC‐SF) before treatment and 6 months later. RESULTS: Symptom severity correlated moderately with well‐being at baseline and strongly at follow‐up. Reliable change index scores showed improvement on the QIDS‐SR, OQ‐45, and MHC‐SF in 65%, 59%, and 40%, respectively. A quarter of patients improved in symptom severity but not well‐being (Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology—Self‐Report [IDS‐SR]: 25%; OQ‐45: 24%). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that symptom severity and subjective well‐being are related, but distinct concepts. Several reasons for the stronger improvements in symptoms than in well‐being are discussed.