Duration of untreated illness in youth depression

Introduction 
Currently, there are many studies on the effect of the duration of an untreated psychosis on the further course of the disease. In terms of the duration of the untreated illness (DUI) in depression, such studies are significantly less. However, the delay in starting treatment for depression has also been found to have a negative impact on subsequent treatment. 
Objective 
To determine the effect of DUI on the severity of symptoms during the first depressive episode in non-psychotic mental disorders in youth and the degree of their reduction during treatment. 
Material and methods 
Diagnosed 52 male in-patients (16-25 years) who were first hospitalized for a depression in non-psychotic mental disorders affective disorders (F31, F32, F33, F34), personality disorders (F60) and schizotypal disorder (F21). The duration of the DUI was 35.817.0 months. The patients were divided into two groups: 1 group (59.6%, n=31) with the DUI lasting more than 36 months, 2 group (40.4%, n=21) with the DUI lasting less than 36 months. HDRS, SOPS and SANS were used. The examination was conducted twice at the time of the patients admission to hospital and before discharge. Statistical analysis was carried out with Statistica 12. 
Results 
There was no difference in the severity of the clinical symptoms upon admission. However, there were some differences in the residual depressive symptoms on the HDRS scale (p=0.019), negative symptoms on the SOPS (p=0.069), symptoms of disorganization on the SOPS (p=0.091), the total score of the SOPS (p=0.069), negative symptoms Alogia on the SANS (p=0.083), Anhedonia Asociality of the SANS (p=0.058) and the total score on the SANS (p=0.093) at the time of discharge in the patients of 1 group. 
Conclusion 
The DUI affects the reduction of depressive, negative and disorganized symptoms of youth depression in non-psychotic mental disorders.