OBJECTIVES: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with significant disability and poor quality of life (QoL) (1). It is the second leading cause of years lived with disability in China (2). Few studies have examined QoL beyond the acute or short-term maintenance phase. This study examined short- and long-term QoL and healthcare resource use in patients initiating antidepressant treatment. METHODS: The Prospective Research Observation to Assess Cognition in Treated MDD patients (PROACT) is a non-interventional, prospective, multi-site study of Chinese MDD outpatients, aged 18–65 years, initiating new antidepressant monotherapy at Baseline with follow-up at Months 1, 2 and 6. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale – 17 Items (HAM-D), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), EuroQoL five Dimensions (EQ-5D) and healthcare resource use were collected at each visit. The analysis population included patients with DSST assessment at both Baseline and Month 2 visits. Data were summarised descriptively. RESULTS: Of 1008 patients enrolled, 666 (66.1%) completed the study. 598 patients were included in the analyses. At Baseline, mean (SD) age was 36.5 (±12.0) years. 42.6% patients had previous depressive episodes. Mean (SD) HAM-D total score was 23.3±4.4 points. 34.6% and 64.5% patients were in remission (HAM-D≤ 7) at Month 2 and 6 respectively. Mean (SD) EQ-5D utility was 0.74±0.14 at Baseline, while 0.93±0.09 versus 0.82±0.13 at Month 2, and 0.95±0.08 versus 0.81±0.14 at Month 6 for patients in remission compared to patients not in remission. Lower proportions of patients in remission compared to patients not in remission had seen a psychiatrist since Baseline at Month 2 (57.1% versus 64.4%) and since last visit at Month 6 (56.5% versus 63.0%). Same pattern was seen for non-psychiatric physician visits. Less than 2% of patients were hospitalised. CONCLUSIONS: Patients achieving remission reported better QoL and had lower healthcare resource use compared to patients not in remission.