Citation

Birmaher B, Williamson DE, Dahl RE, Axelson DA, Kaufman J, Dorn LD, Ryan ND. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 2004; 43(1): 63-70.

Affiliation

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pa 15213, USA. birmaherb@upmc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/00004583-200401000-00015

PMID

14691361

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To simultaneously and prospectively compare the clinical presentation, course, and parental psychiatric history between children and adolescents with major depressive disorder. METHOD: A group of prepubertal children (n = 46) and postpubertal adolescents (n = 22) were assessed with structured interviews for psychopathology and parental psychiatric history and followed once every 2 years for approximately 5 years. RESULTS: With the exception of more depressive melancholic symptoms in the adolescents, both groups had similar depressive symptomatology, duration (average 17 months), severity of the index episode, rates of recovery (85%) and recurrence (40%), comorbid disorders, and parental psychiatric history. Female sex, increased guilt, prior episodes of depression, and parental psychopathology were associated with worse longitudinal course. CONCLUSIONS: In general, major depressive disorder is manifested similarly in children and adolescents, and both groups have a protracted clinical course and high family loading for psychiatric disorders.

Language: en