Citation

Bohman H, Jonsson U, Päären A, von Knorring L, Olsson G, von Knorring AL. BMC Psychiatry 2012; 12(1): 90.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/1471-244X-12-90

PMID

22839681

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The lack of population based long-term longitudinal studies of functional physical/somatic symptoms has been stressed in previous research. Little is known about the long-term outcome or whether associated depression is a risk factor or a consequence. This study follows up adolescents with depression and non-depressed controls with or without functional somatic symptoms in a community sample during 15 years. METHODS: The total population of 16-17 year olds, in the city of Uppsala, Sweden, was screened for depression in 1991-1993. Adolescents with positive screening and the same number of healthy controls took part in a semi-structured diagnostic interview. In addition, 21 different self-rated somatic symptoms were assessed. The participants were followed up with a structured interview 15 years later, 64% participated. RESULTS: The number of concurrent somatic symptoms in adolescents with depression predicted adverse adult mental health outcomes in a stepwise manner. The quarter of the depressed adolescents with most somatic symptoms (greater than or equal to 5) subsequently developed recurrent depression (68%), panic disorder (44%), chronic depression (30%), somatoform disorders (26%), bipolar disorder (22%), suicide attempts (16%), and psychotic disorders (8%). Abdominal pain was a strong independent predictor for depression and anxiety.Somatic symptoms predicted adult mental disorders in non-depressed controls. CONCLUSIONS: Somatic symptoms precede depression and predict future mental disorders. The number of somatic symptoms concurrent with adolescent depression is related to subsequent poor mental health in a stepwise manner. Treatment guidelines for individuals with somatic symptoms are needed.

Language: en