Table 3.

Most and least important statements in defining cure in patients with depression

Psychiatrists		GPs
Item	Mean score	Item	Mean score
10 most important items in defining cure
Little interest or pleasure in doing things	4.52	Little interest or pleasure in doing things	4.39
Occupational functioning	4.44	Feeling life is meaningful	4.37
Social functioning/leisure	4.44	Social functioning/leisure	4.36
Being able to enjoy life	4.44	Being able to enjoy life	4.30
Feeling down, depressed or hopeless	4.43	Occupational functioning	4.27
Interested	4.33	Feeling down, depressed or hopeless	4.25
Feeling life is meaningful	4.32	Not feeling blue, depressed or anxious	4.13
Active	4.25	Interested	4.12
Thoughts that one would be better off dead	4.18	Active	4.09
Being able to concentrate	4.13	Thoughts that one would be better off dead	4.07
10 least important items in defining cure
Stomach pain	2.66	Back pain	2.73
Dizziness	2.61	Dizziness	2.71
Back pain	2.58	Stomach pain	2.65
Pain in arms, legs or joints	2.47	Pain during intercourse	2.65
Shortness of breath	2.47	Shortness of breath	2.59
Constipation, loose bowels or diarrhoea	2.43	Pain in arms, legs or joints	2.48
Nausea, gas or indigestion	2.36	Nausea, gas or indigestion	2.48
Pain during intercourse	2.30	Fainting spells	2.31
Fainting spells	2.08	Constipation, loose bowels or diarrhoea	2.29
Menstrual pain	2.01	Menstrual pain	1.98

Physicians were asked to rank the importance of each item from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating greatest importance.

The 3 Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria located in the top 10 are highlighted.

GP, general practitioner.