"The GOAL! survey confirms what I see in my own patients -- achieving remission of depression symptoms allows people to take pleasure again in the activities most meaningful to them, which they could not undertake while depressed or when not on the right therapy," says Norman Sussman, M.D., professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine. "Too many doctors and patients are settling for a partial response to depression treatment, which doesn't let people get back to a full quality of life. Patients and their doctors should be looking for options that have the greatest likelihood of getting them there."

Depression affects approximately 19 million Americans each year and can interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

The survey asked people diagnosed with depression about symptoms they experienced and activities they once enjoyed and asked them to self identify if they had achieved remission of symptoms. Overall, after remission, the respondents were six times more likely to be satisfied with their quality of life than those still suffering from depression (91 versus 15 percent). The majority of people who had achieved remission (69 percent) reported returning to activities they could not undertake while depressed. Their top five activities, in rank order, were family life, indoor hobbies, community service, exercise, and artistic endeavors.

The survey suggests that it is vital that health-care professionals reinforce to patients that recovery from depression can be achieved: 55 percent of patients in remission versus 36 percent of patients with active symptoms reported that either a medical professional or a friend had told them remission was possible.

Survey results indicate that depression and recovery from it has a significant impact on a patient's perceptions about the quality of their interpersonal relationships. Of patients who reported symptomatic remission, 89 percent reported improved quality in relationships with a partner or loved one. In addition, respondents reported increases in the stability of their relationships, from 64 to 90 percent, and in having an active and fulfilling sex life, from 42 to 61 percent.

Among respondents in remission who were parents, 90 percent indicated their relationships with their children improved. Specifically, they reported that their children like to be around them more (88 percent), were happier (86 percent) and talked to them more (78 percent).

With remission, 80 percent of the respondents indicated an improved ability to be successful at work, in looking for work, in school or as a homemaker. Of those who were employed, 86 percent said they were much more productive and 74 percent said they could assume more responsibilities.