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Recurrence of major depression in adolescence and early adulthood, and later mental health, educational and economic outcomes

Christchurch Health and Development Study, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch, New Zealand

Correspondence: Professor David M. Fergusson, Christchurch Health and Development Study, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box 4345, Christ church, New Zealand. Tel: +64 3 372 0406; fax: +64 3 372 0407; email: david.fergusson{at}chmeds.ac.nz

Declaration of interest None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background It is unclear how the recurrence of major depression in adolescence affects later life outcomes.

Aims To examine the associations between the frequency of major depression at ages 16–21 and later outcomes, both before and after controlling for potentially confounding factors.

Method Data were gathered from a 25-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of New Zealand children (n=982). Outcome measures included DSM–IV symptom criteria for major depression and anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation and attempted suicide, achieving university degree or other tertiary education qualification, welfare dependence and unemployment, and income at ages 21–25 years.

Results There were significant (P<0.05) associations between the frequency of depression at ages 16–21 years and all outcome measures. After adjustment for confounding factors, the association between frequency of depression and all mental health outcomes, and welfare dependence and unemployment, remained significant (P<0.05).

Conclusions The frequency of depression in adolescence and young adulthood is associated with adverse mental health and economic outcomes in early adulthood.

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