title: Recurrence of major depression in adolescence and early adulthood, and later mental health, educational and economic outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is unclear how the recurrence of major depression in adolescence affects later life outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the associations between the frequency of major depression at ages 16-21 and later outcomes, both before and after controlling for potentially confounding factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were gathered from a 25-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of New Zealand children (n=982). Outcome measures included DSM-IV symptom criteria for major depression and anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation and attempted suicide, achieving university degree or other tertiary education qualification, welfare dependence and unemployment, and income at ages 21-25 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant (P<0.05) associations between the frequency of depression at ages 16-21 years and all outcome measures. After adjustment for confounding factors, the association between frequency of depression and all mental health outcomes, and welfare dependence and unemployment, remained significant (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of depression in adolescence and young adulthood is associated with adverse mental health and economic outcomes in early adulthood.
authors: Christchurch Health and Development Study, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. david.fergusson@chmeds.ac.nz
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Fergusson
authors: Joseph M
authors: JM
authors: Boden
authors: L John
authors: LJ
authors: Horwood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012917:Social Adjustment