Adult psychosocial outcome of prepubertal major depressive disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To compare adult psychosocial functioning (PSF) of subjects with prepubertal major depressive disorder (PMDD) to a normal comparison (NC) group.


METHODS
PSF of subjects with PMDD (n = 72) and of NC subjects (n = 28) was compared after prospective follow-up to adulthood. These 100 subjects were 90.9% of the baseline 110 subjects who participated in the "Nortriptyline in Childhood Depression: Follow-up Study." Research nurses who were blind to group status conducted telephone interviews using the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation (LIFE) to obtain PSF data.


RESULTS
At follow-up, the PMDD group was 20.7+/-2.0 and the NC subjects were 20.9+/-2.2 years old. The PMDD subjects were 10.3+/-1.5 years old at baseline. Time between baseline and follow-up was 9.9+/-1.5 years. In the PMDD group, subjects with MDD, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorders during the previous 5 years had significantly worse PSF than NC subjects. These PSF impairments included significantly worse relationships with parents, siblings, and friends; significantly worse functioning in household, school, and work settings; and worse overall quality of life and global social adjustment.


CONCLUSIONS
Although combined treatments for PMDD have little scientific basis, multimodality regimens seem prudent until definitive treatment data become available.
Geller
B
B
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. gellerb@medicine.wustl.edu
Zimerman
B
B
Williams
M
M
Bolhofner
K
K
Craney
J L
JL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012917:Social Adjustment
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D009661:Nortriptyline