Remission

Remission is a period when the symptoms of a mental health condition have eased so much that they barely affect your life, or have gone. It isn’t the same as a cure, because symptoms can return. The word is used for depression, schizophrenia and other mental health conditions, and for physical illnesses such as cancer.

Also called: being in remission; full remission or partial remission; a symptom-free period.

Types of remission

Partial remission means you no longer meet the full criteria for the condition, but some symptoms remain. Full remission means few or no symptoms are left. The gap matters. In studies of depression, people who improved but kept leftover symptoms relapsed much sooner than people whose symptoms cleared completely. So “better” isn’t always the finish line.

Examples

• Depression: clinicians track your score on a symptom questionnaire. Remission is when it falls to a low level. A 2019 review of 56 studies argued the bar should be lower than the one long used.
• Schizophrenia: expert criteria set a level that symptoms must fall below, and then stay below.

In Nigeria

Remission is a realistic goal here. In a trial in 35 primary care clinics in Ibadan, about three in four adults with moderate to severe depression were in remission after 12 months, with care from trained primary care staff. Because most Nigerians pay for care themselves, it’s tempting to stop as soon as you feel better. Talk to your therapist or doctor first. Never stop a prescribed antidepressant suddenly: withdrawal symptoms can feel like the illness coming back.

How it differs from recovery and relapse

Researchers use four linked words. Remission is when symptoms ease to minimal levels. Recovery is a remission that has lasted. Relapse is when symptoms return during remission. Recurrence is a new episode after recovery. In practice the line between remission and recovery is blurry, and the longer you stay well, the lower the risk.

When to get help

If symptoms are creeping back, such as sleep slipping, interest fading or old thoughts returning, tell your therapist or doctor early. You can also book a licensed therapist on Mytherapist.ng who works with depression and mood disorders, to plan how to stay well.

Read next

• Depression: signs and treatment in Nigeria
• Therapy or Medication: Which Do You Need?
• Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)
• Major depressive disorder

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This entry is awaiting clinical review. It’s based on published research and health guidelines, and we’ll update it once a clinician has reviewed it.