NCJ Number
220470
Journal
Journal of Adolescent Health Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2007 Pages: 256-262
Date Published
September 2007
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Building on prior research, this study addressed the question of whether adolescents with a history of depressive disorders remain at risk for negative health outcomes in young adulthood even when current depression is taken into account.
Abstract
The analyses suggest that both objectively rated and self-rated general health during the transition to adulthood may be compromised among individuals who have experienced depressive disorders, and these detriments to health are associated with higher medical costs and work impairment. However, depression by age 15 did not predict physical functioning or reported chronic disease status. Because of its high prevalence and chronic nature, depression has been ranked by the World Health Organization as the single most burdensome disease in the world. Recently, the association between depression and health outcomes has received significant empirical attention. However, most of the research on the topic has been limited to adult and aging populations, and the health implications of depression during adolescence have been largely ignored. The aim of this study was to examine whether early adolescent major depressive disorder was associated with negative health outcomes in young adulthood after controlling for depression at the time of followup. In addition, indicators of medical and social costs associated with these health consequences were measured. The sample for the analyses consisted of 705 male and female adolescents involved in a study of maternal and offspring depression. Tables, references