title: A prospective cohort study of depression course, functional disability, and NEET status in help-seeking young adults.
abstract: To examine the associations between depression course, functional disability, and Not in Education or Training (NEET) status in a clinical sample of young adults with mental health problems.
  
  
  
  Young adults aged 15-25 years seeking help from four primary mental health services were invited to participate in a prospective cohort study evaluating the course of psychiatric disorders in youth. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including depressive symptomatology and functioning, were evaluated through clinical interview and self-report at baseline and 12 month follow-up.
  
  
  
  A total of 448 young adults participated (70 % female; M: 20.05 years, SD = 2.85). A significant interaction effect for time and depression course was found, such that those who became depressed reported an increase in functional disability and those whose depression remitted reported a significant reduction in functional disability. Developing depression was not a significant predictor of becoming NEET and vice versa: remitted depression did not make a person more likely to reengage in employment or education.
  
  
  
  This is the first study to examine the course of depression, functional disability, and NEET rates among help-seeking young adults. This study confirms the importance of symptom reduction for improved functioning; however, functional disability remained greater than that seen in young people in the community and there was no association between a change in depression and a change in NEET status. These results argue that services need to address functional outcomes and reengagement with education and employment in addition to symptom reduction.
authors: Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. b.odea@blackdog.org.au.|Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. b.odea@blackdog.org.au.
authors: Bridianne
authors: B
authors: O'Dea
authors: Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Rico S C
authors: RS
authors: Lee
authors: Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Patrick D
authors: PD
authors: McGorry
authors: Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Ian B
authors: IB
authors: Hickie
authors: Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Scott
authors: Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Daniel F
authors: DF
authors: Hermens
authors: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Arnstein
authors: A
authors: Mykletun
authors: Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Rosemary
authors: R
authors: Purcell
authors: Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Eoin
authors: E
authors: Killackey
authors: Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Christos
authors: C
authors: Pantelis
authors: Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: G Paul
authors: GP
authors: Amminger
authors: Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Glozier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Depression; Employment; Functional disability; NEET; Youth