Abstract Treatment outcomes for major depressive disorder (MDD) need to be improved.
Presently, no clinically relevant tools have been established for stratifying subgroups or
predicting outcomes. This literature review sought to investigate factors closely linked to
outcome and summarize existing and novel strategies for improvement. The results show
that early recognition and treatment are crucial, as duration of untreated depression
correlates with worse outcomes. Early improvement is associated with response and …

Treatment outcomes for major depressive disorder (MDD) need to be improved. Presently,
no clinically relevant tools have been established for stratifying subgroups or predicting
outcomes. This literature review sought to investigate factors closely linked to outcome and
summarize existing and novel strategies for improvement. The results show that early
recognition and treatment are crucial, as duration of untreated depression correlates with
worse outcomes. Early improvement is associated with response and remission, while …