Childhood-onset depressive disorders. A follow-up study of rates of rehospitalization and out-of-home placement among child psychiatric inpatients.

This report describes preliminary outcome data for a sample of child psychiatric inpatients with diagnoses of major depression and/or dysthymic disorder at the time of their hospitalizations. Depressed children were compared with a contrast group of children with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Results (based on semi-structured telephone interviews) indicate high rates of rehospitalization among our depressed cohort. Depressed children had rehospitalization rates of 35% and 45% respectively in the first and second years after discharge. Out-of-home placement was rarer in the depressed group, and significantly less likely than for children with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, 15% of the depressed cohort were placed out of their homes within the first year of discharge. There were no differences between children with major depressive and dysthymic disorders on these outcome variables, underscoring the serious long-term correlates of childhood dysthymic as well as major depressive disorders.