Table 1 Sample characteristics at t1

Female (%)

0

245 (61.3)

116 (60.1)

χ² (1) = 0.07; p = .79

Referral, n (%)

19 (3.2)

 General Practitioner (private practice)

9 (2.3)

8 (4.2)

 Psychiatrist (private practice)

269 (70.2)

106 (55.5)

 Psychotherapist (private practice)

19 (5.0)

9 (4.7)

χ² (6) = 94.11; p < .001

 Outpatient Service (hospital)

65 (17.0)

22 (11.5)

 Hospital transfer

0

39 (20.4%)

 Counselling of Health Insurance

13 (3.4)

0

 Others

8 (2.1)

7 (3.7)

Age; M (SD)

0

43.1 (11.2)

41.5 (12.2)

t (351.82) = 1.56; p = .11

Partnership; n (%)

21 (3.5)

240 (63.2)

85 (44.3)

χ² (1) = 18.55; p < .001

Highest school education^a; n (%)

14 (2.4)

173 (44.7)

86 (44.8)

χ² (1) = 0.000; p = .98

Current employment; n (%)

21 (3.5)

277 (72.9)

98 (51.0)

χ² (1) = 26.98; p < .001

Clinical diagnoses; n (%)

12 (2.0)

 Low depressive episode/Dysthymia/Adjustment disorder

62 (15.7)

3 (1.6%)

 Moderate depressive episode

291 (73.5)

61 (33.0)

χ² (2) = 194.44; p < .001

 Severe depressive episode

43 (10.9)

121 (65.4)

Number of diagnoses; M (SD)

1.2 (0.4)

1.3 (0.5)

t (323.84) = − 0.97; p = .30

Severity of depression (low to moderate versus severe); n (%)

2 (0.3)

346 (86.5)

64 (33.5)

χ² (1) = 170.86; p < .001

Recurrent depressive disorder; n (%)

1 (0.2)

67 (16.8)

81 (42.2)

χ² (1) = 44.77; p < .001

Suicidal thoughts^b; n (%)

45 (7.6)

 - Score 1

159 (43.6%)

90 (49.2%)

χ² (3) = 6.41;

 - Scores 2 and 3

19 (5.2)

17 (9.3)

Psychotropic Medication^c; n (%)

45 (7.6)

291 (80.6)

179 (95.7)

χ² (1) = 23.05; p < .001