Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
The goal of this prospective study is to better understand the link between loneliness and depression in the inpatient psychiatric treatment of depression. It aims to answer: Do lonely and not lonely persons benefit the same way from inpatient depression treatment? Is loneliness a clinical relevant factor in inpatient treatment of depression? What are the underlying biopsychosocial mechanisms? Participants will be asked to do some * self-report questionnaires * clinical interview * biosampling (blood, saliva, stool) at three main measurement timepoints (1. begin of inpatient treatment, 2. day of discharge, 3. three months after discharge).
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * primary diagnosis of depression according to ICD-10 (F32 or F33), as diagnosed by a physician or clinical psychologist in conjunction with the M.I.N.I. Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview diagnostic tools * inpatient elective or emergency admission to one of the two psychiatric clinics; - age over 18 years * sufficient understanding of spoken and written German * informed voluntary consent Exclusion Criteria: * a current lack of capacity to provide consent (e.g., pronounced psychotic symptoms, stuporous depressive syndrome, and thought constriction to suicidality) * previous participation in the study * pregnancy or breastfeeding * inpatient stay of less than 7 days, even if the patients initially met the inclusion criteria.