Adolescent fears as predictors of depression.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies raise questions on the relationship between adolescent fears and risk for major depression.


METHODS
An epidemiologic sample of 776 young people received psychiatric assessments in 1983, 1985-1986, and 1992. Prospective associations were examined between fears in adolescence and future episodes of major depression.


RESULTS
Both overall level of fears and specific fear of dark in adolescence predicted future risk for major depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Relatively high levels of fear in adolescence represent a risk factor for later episodes of major depression.
Pine
D S
DS
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Intramural Research Program, Program on Mood and Anxiety Disorders, (DSP), Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1381, USA.
Cohen
P
P
Brook
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index