TY - JOUR
T1 - Differences in early childhood risk factors for juvenile-onset and adult-onset depression
AU - Jaffee, S R
AU - Moffitt, T E
AU - Caspi, A
AU - Fombonne, E
AU - Poulton, R
AU - Martin, J
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Background: Family and twin studies suggest that juvenile-onset major depressive disorder (MDD) may be etiologically distinct from adult-onset MDD. This study is the first to distinguish prospectively between juvenile- and adult-onset cases of MDD in a representative birth cohort followed up from childhood into adulthood. Method: The study followed a representative birth cohort prospectively from birth to age 26 years. Early childhood risk factors covered the period from birth to age 9 years. Diagnoses of MDD were made according to DSM criteria at 3 points prior to adulthood (ages 11, 13, and 15 years) and 3 points during adulthood (ages 18,21, and 26 years). Four groups were defined as (1) individuals first diagnosed as having MDD in childhood, but not in adulthood (n= 21); (2) individuals first diagnosed as having MDD in adulthood (n=314); (3) individuals first diagnosed in childhood whose depression recurred in adulthood by age 26 years (n=34); and (4) never-depressed individuals (n = 629). Results: The 2 juvenile-onset groups had similar high-risk profiles on the childhood measures. Compared with the adult-depressed group, the juvenile-onset groups experienced more perinatal insults and motor skill deficits, caretaker instability, criminality, and psychopathology in their family-of-origin, and behavioral and socioemotional problems. The adult-onset group's risk profile was similar to that of the never-depressed group with the exception of elevated childhood sexual abuse. Conclusions: Heterogeneity within groups of psychiatric patients poses problems for theory, research, and treatment. The present study illustrates that the distinction between juvenile- vs adult-onset MDD is important for understanding heterogeneity within depression.
AB - Background: Family and twin studies suggest that juvenile-onset major depressive disorder (MDD) may be etiologically distinct from adult-onset MDD. This study is the first to distinguish prospectively between juvenile- and adult-onset cases of MDD in a representative birth cohort followed up from childhood into adulthood. Method: The study followed a representative birth cohort prospectively from birth to age 26 years. Early childhood risk factors covered the period from birth to age 9 years. Diagnoses of MDD were made according to DSM criteria at 3 points prior to adulthood (ages 11, 13, and 15 years) and 3 points during adulthood (ages 18,21, and 26 years). Four groups were defined as (1) individuals first diagnosed as having MDD in childhood, but not in adulthood (n= 21); (2) individuals first diagnosed as having MDD in adulthood (n=314); (3) individuals first diagnosed in childhood whose depression recurred in adulthood by age 26 years (n=34); and (4) never-depressed individuals (n = 629). Results: The 2 juvenile-onset groups had similar high-risk profiles on the childhood measures. Compared with the adult-depressed group, the juvenile-onset groups experienced more perinatal insults and motor skill deficits, caretaker instability, criminality, and psychopathology in their family-of-origin, and behavioral and socioemotional problems. The adult-onset group's risk profile was similar to that of the never-depressed group with the exception of elevated childhood sexual abuse. Conclusions: Heterogeneity within groups of psychiatric patients poses problems for theory, research, and treatment. The present study illustrates that the distinction between juvenile- vs adult-onset MDD is important for understanding heterogeneity within depression.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036192694&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1001/archpsyc.59.3.215
DO - 10.1001/archpsyc.59.3.215
M3 - Article
SN - 1538-3636
VL - 59
SP - 215
EP - 222
JO - Archives of General Psychiatry
JF - Archives of General Psychiatry
IS - 3
ER -