BACKGROUND: Recent studies have highlighted the unfavourable natural course of chronic/long-term depression. We investigated the adult mental health outcome of adolescent depression, with specific focus on long-term and episodic adolescent major depression (MD). METHODS: A community sample of depressed adolescents and non-depressed peers was followed-up with a structured diagnostic interview after 15 years. The participants (n=382) were divided into five groups depending on their status in adolescence: no depression (n=155); long-term MD (n=91); episodic MD (n=63); dysthymia (n=33); and subthreshold symptoms (n=40). Outcomes (age 19-31) included mood disorders, other mental disorders, suicidality, and treatment for mental disorders. RESULTS: The long-term group overall had a poorer outcome than the non-depressed group, with the episodic group in an intermediate position. The outcome of the dysthymic group was similar to that of the long-term group, while the subsyndromal group did not differ markedly from the non-depressed group. The long-term group was more likely than the episodic group to report adult anxiety disorders, multiple mental disorders, suicide attempts, and treatment; they also seemed to develop more persistent adult depressions, with a higher number of recurrent episodes and longer duration of antidepressant treatment. Even after adjustment for adolescent factors of clinical and etiological importance, the long-term group had a markedly less favourable outcome than the episodic group. LIMITATION: The participation rate at follow-up was 64.6%. CONCLUSION: Longstanding depression in adolescence is a powerful predictor of continued mental health problems in adulthood. It is now important to evaluate if early interventions can alter this severe course.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have highlighted the unfavourable natural course of chronic/long-term depression. We investigated the adult mental health outcome of adolescent depression, with specific focus on long-term and episodic adolescent major depression (MD). METHODS: A community sample of depressed adolescents and non-depressed peers was followed-up with a structured diagnostic interview after 15 years. The participants (n=382) were divided into five groups depending on their status in adolescence: no depression (n=155); long-term MD (n=91); episodic MD (n=63); dysthymia (n=33); and subthreshold symptoms (n=40). Outcomes (age 19-31) included mood disorders, other mental disorders, suicidality, and treatment for mental disorders. RESULTS: The long-term group overall had a poorer outcome than the non-depressed group, with the episodic group in an intermediate position. The outcome of the dysthymic group was similar to that of the long-term group, while the subsyndromal group did not differ markedly from the non-depressed group. The long-term group was more likely than the episodic group to report adult anxiety disorders, multiple mental disorders, suicide attempts, and treatment; they also seemed to develop more persistent adult depressions, with a higher number of recurrent episodes and longer duration of antidepressant treatment. Even after adjustment for adolescent factors of clinical and etiological importance, the long-term group had a markedly less favourable outcome than the episodic group. LIMITATION: The participation rate at follow-up was 64.6%. CONCLUSION: Longstanding depression in adolescence is a powerful predictor of continued mental health problems in adulthood. It is now important to evaluate if early interventions can alter this severe course.
Authors: Jadon R Webb; Jean Addington; Diana O Perkins; Carrie E Bearden; Kristin S Cadenhead; Tyrone D Cannon; Barbara A Cornblatt; Robert K Heinssen; Larry J Seidman; Sarah I Tarbox; Ming T Tsuang; Elaine F Walker; Thomas H McGlashan; Scott W Woods Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2015-09 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Rasim Somer Diler; Tina R Goldstein; Danella Hafeman; Brian Thomas Rooks; Dara Sakolsky; Benjamin I Goldstein; Kelly Monk; Mary Beth Hickey; David Axelson; Satish Iyengar; Boris Birmaher Journal: Bipolar Disord Date: 2017-06-14 Impact factor: 6.744
Authors: Iman Alaie; Anna Philipson; Richard Ssegonja; William E Copeland; Mia Ramklint; Hannes Bohman; Ulf Jonsson Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2021-06-25 Impact factor: 4.785