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Recurrent describes the timeline, not the severity or treatment response: the illness has returned in separate depressive episodes.

A recurrent course means at least two depressive episodes, with no manic or hypomanic episode that would redirect diagnosis toward bipolar disorder. Each current episode is then described separately by severity, psychotic symptoms and remission status. Repetition also raises future relapse risk, so continuation treatment becomes an explicit shared decision.

Look for two or more distinct depressive episodes, recovery or remission between episodes, and explicit absence of maniaA period of abnormally elevated mood, energy and activity, seen in bipolar disorder.Read more → or hypomania.

• Recurrent vs single episode depression, at least two episodes contrasts with one lifetime episode.
• Recurrent depression vs bipolar disorder, repeated depression occurs without maniaA period of abnormally elevated mood, energy and activity, seen in bipolar disorder.Read more → or hypomania.
• Recurrent vs persistent depression, separated episodes contrast with a long-lasting chronic depressive course.
• Recurrent vs treatment-resistant depression: recurrence describes return over time, whereas resistance describes inadequate treatment response.

Trap, equating recurrence with treatment resistance. Resolution: a person may respond fully each time yet later relapse.

Trap, ignoring a past hypomanic episode. Resolution: any credible maniaA period of abnormally elevated mood, energy and activity, seen in bipolar disorder.Read more → or hypomania changes the course formulation toward bipolar disorder.

Answer course questions in three steps, count depressive episodes, search the lifetime history for mood elevation, then state the current episode severity or remission status.