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Remission: a plain-language definition
Remission is the state of having few or no remaining symptoms of a condition. It is the explicit target of treatment, not merely feeling somewhat better.
Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Last reviewed June 8, 2026 · Editorial policy
Definition
What remission means
Remission is the goal a clinician aims for: a state in which symptoms have largely or completely resolved. In depression, remission is often defined by a low score on a scale like the PHQ-9, signaling that the symptoms have lifted to a normal range rather than just easing a little. It overlaps with euthymia, the return to a stable, healthy mood. Remission is the difference between feeling better and feeling well.
In practice the distinction between partial improvement and full remission matters more than it might seem. A person who has gone from severe depression to mild depression has made real progress but is not in remission, and those lingering symptoms predict a higher chance of relapse. Aiming explicitly for remission, rather than stopping at partial response, gives a better and more durable outcome. Measurement-based care makes this target concrete by showing exactly where the score lands.
This matters because settling for partial improvement is a common trap. Residual symptoms, the leftover low energy or stubborn anhedonia, are both a drag on quality of life and a risk factor for the condition coming back. When a person reaches partial response but not remission, that is a signal to keep optimizing, by adjusting the dose, changing or adding a medication, or adding therapy, rather than calling treatment done.
A common misconception is that remission means cured. It means symptoms are gone for now, which is different from a permanent end to the condition, and it is why maintenance treatment continues after remission to hold the gains. Another misread is that any improvement counts as success. Real progress is worth recognizing, but remission is the standard worth pursuing, because that is where quality of life and relapse protection are strongest.
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Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is remission the same as being cured?
No. Remission means symptoms are largely or fully gone for now. It is not a permanent end to the condition, which is why maintenance treatment often continues after remission to protect the gains.
What is the difference between feeling better and remission?
Feeling better can mean partial improvement with lingering symptoms. Remission means few or no symptoms remain, measured by a low score on a scale like the PHQ-9. Remission is the stronger, more durable target.
Why aim for full remission instead of partial improvement?
Residual symptoms lower quality of life and raise the risk of relapse. Aiming for full remission gives a better and more lasting outcome, which is why treatment keeps optimizing until the score reaches a normal range.
Sources
Sources and further reading
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