Depression and anxiety symptoms: onset, developmental course and risk factors during early childhood.
BACKGROUND
Depressive and anxiety disorders are among the top ten leading causes of disabilities. We know little, however, about the onset, developmental course and early risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms (DAS).


OBJECTIVE
Model the developmental trajectories of DAS during early childhood and to identify risk factors for atypically high DAS.


METHODS
Group-based developmental trajectories of DAS conditional on risk factors were estimated from annual maternal ratings (1(1/2) to 5 years) in a large population sample (n = 1759).


RESULTS
DAS increased substantially in two of the three distinct trajectory groups identified: High-Rising (14.7%); Moderate-Rising (55.4%); and Low (29.9%). Two factors distinguished the High-Rising group from the other two: Difficult temperament at 5 months (High-Rising vs Moderate-Rising: OR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.13-1.55; High-Rising vs Low: OR = 1.31, CI = 1.12-1.54) and maternal lifetime major depression (High-Rising vs Moderate-Rising: OR = 1.10; CI = 1.01-1.20; High-Rising vs Low: OR = 1.19; CI = 1.08-1.31). Two factors distinguished the High-Rising group from the Low group: High family dysfunction (OR = 1.24; CI = 1.03-1.5) and Low parental self-efficacy (OR = .71; CI = .54-.94).


CONCLUSIONS
DAS tend to increase in frequency over the first 5 years of life. Atypically high level can be predicted from mother and child characteristics present before 6 months of age. Preventive interventions should be experimented with at risk infants and parents.
Côté
Sylvana M
SM
International Laboratory for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J7, Canada. sylvana.cote@umontreal.ca
Boivin
Michel
M
Liu
Xuecheng
X
Nagin
Daniel S
DS
Zoccolillo
Mark
M
Tremblay
Richard E
RE
D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000523:psychology; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors