Longitudinal investigation into childhood- and adolescence-onset depression: psychiatric outcome in early adulthood.
BACKGROUND
Major depression in childhood or adolescence increases the risk off affective disorder in adulthood. The precise nature and course of the subsequent disorder remain unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate long-term psychiatric outcome of school-age depression in community and clinic samples.


METHODS
A group of 113 young adults were followed up after a mean of 7.8 years (s.e.=15).


RESULTS
Groups with persistent and recurrent depression were identified. Recurrence of affective disorder was similar in clinic and community groups. The clinic group had significantly longer index episodes; these were predicted by an early psychiatric history, longer episode duration before treatment and greater impairment. Being female, having higher self-report depression scores and comorbidity at index episode predicted earlier recurrence. Males were more likely to have persistent depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Prognosis is similar in young people with depression from community and clinical samples. Boys from a clinical sample are at higher risk than girls of becoming persistently and severely mentally ill.
Dunn
Valerie
V
Developmental Psychiatry Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 2AH, UK. vjd20@cam.ac.uk
Goodyer
Ian M
IM
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology