Association of timing of menarche with depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence: Mendelian randomisation study

Maija-Eliina Sequeira; Sarah J Lewis; Carolina Bonilla; George Davey Smith; Carol Joinson

doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.115.168617

Association of timing of menarche with depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence: Mendelian randomisation study

Maija-Eliina Sequeira, Sarah J Lewis, Carolina Bonilla, George Davey Smith, Carol Joinson^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

68 Citations (Scopus)

361 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Observational studies report associations between early menarche and higher levels of depressive symptoms and depression. However, no studies have investigated whether this association is causal.

AIMS: To determine whether earlier menarche is a causal risk factor for depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence.

METHOD: The associations between a genetic score for age at menarche and depressive symptoms at 14, 17 and 19 years, and depression at 18 years, were examined using Mendelian randomisation analysis techniques.

RESULTS: Using a genetic risk score to indicate earlier timing of menarche, we found that early menarche is associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms at 14 years (odds ratio per risk allele 1.02, 95% CI 1.005-1.04, n = 2404). We did not find an association between the early menarche risk score and depressive symptoms or depression after age 14.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for a causal effect of age at menarche on depressive symptoms at age 14.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	39-46
Number of pages	8
Journal	British Journal of Psychiatry
Volume	210
Issue number	1
Early online date	4 Aug 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.115.168617
Publication status	Published - Jan 2017

Access to Document

10.1192/bjp.bp.115.168617

Full-text PDF (final published version)
This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via Royal College of Psychiatry at http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/early/2016/07/21/bjp.bp.115.168617.full-text.pdf+html. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Final published version, 537 KBLicence: CC BY

Handle.net

Persistent link

Cite this

@article{d52d1dca95ac419bb4e36fc1a3bc4fc0,

title = "Association of timing of menarche with depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence: Mendelian randomisation study",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Observational studies report associations between early menarche and higher levels of depressive symptoms and depression. However, no studies have investigated whether this association is causal.AIMS: To determine whether earlier menarche is a causal risk factor for depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence.METHOD: The associations between a genetic score for age at menarche and depressive symptoms at 14, 17 and 19 years, and depression at 18 years, were examined using Mendelian randomisation analysis techniques.RESULTS: Using a genetic risk score to indicate earlier timing of menarche, we found that early menarche is associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms at 14 years (odds ratio per risk allele 1.02, 95% CI 1.005-1.04, n = 2404). We did not find an association between the early menarche risk score and depressive symptoms or depression after age 14.CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for a causal effect of age at menarche on depressive symptoms at age 14.",

author = "Maija-Eliina Sequeira and Lewis, {Sarah J} and Carolina Bonilla and {Davey Smith}, George and Carol Joinson",

year = "2017",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1192/bjp.bp.115.168617",

language = "English",

volume = "210",

pages = "39--46",

journal = "British Journal of Psychiatry",

issn = "0007-1250",

publisher = "Royal College of Psychiatrists",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Association of timing of menarche with depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence

T2 - Mendelian randomisation study

AU - Sequeira, Maija-Eliina

AU - Lewis, Sarah J

AU - Bonilla, Carolina

AU - Davey Smith, George

AU - Joinson, Carol

PY - 2017/1

Y1 - 2017/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Observational studies report associations between early menarche and higher levels of depressive symptoms and depression. However, no studies have investigated whether this association is causal.AIMS: To determine whether earlier menarche is a causal risk factor for depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence.METHOD: The associations between a genetic score for age at menarche and depressive symptoms at 14, 17 and 19 years, and depression at 18 years, were examined using Mendelian randomisation analysis techniques.RESULTS: Using a genetic risk score to indicate earlier timing of menarche, we found that early menarche is associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms at 14 years (odds ratio per risk allele 1.02, 95% CI 1.005-1.04, n = 2404). We did not find an association between the early menarche risk score and depressive symptoms or depression after age 14.CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for a causal effect of age at menarche on depressive symptoms at age 14.

AB - BACKGROUND: Observational studies report associations between early menarche and higher levels of depressive symptoms and depression. However, no studies have investigated whether this association is causal.AIMS: To determine whether earlier menarche is a causal risk factor for depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence.METHOD: The associations between a genetic score for age at menarche and depressive symptoms at 14, 17 and 19 years, and depression at 18 years, were examined using Mendelian randomisation analysis techniques.RESULTS: Using a genetic risk score to indicate earlier timing of menarche, we found that early menarche is associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms at 14 years (odds ratio per risk allele 1.02, 95% CI 1.005-1.04, n = 2404). We did not find an association between the early menarche risk score and depressive symptoms or depression after age 14.CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for a causal effect of age at menarche on depressive symptoms at age 14.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85009101760&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.115.168617

DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.115.168617

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

C2 - 27491534

SN - 0007-1250

VL - 210

SP - 39

EP - 46

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

IS - 1

ER -

Association of timing of menarche with depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence: Mendelian randomisation study

Abstract

Access to Document

Handle.net

Other files and links

Embargoed Document

Fingerprint

MRC UoB UNITE Unit - Programme 1

Professor Carol J Joinson

Professor Sarah J Lewis

Cite this

Association of timing of menarche with depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence: Mendelian randomisation study

Abstract

Access to Document

Handle.net

Other files and links

Embargoed Document

Fingerprint

Projects

MRC UoB UNITE Unit - Programme 1

Profiles

Professor Carol J Joinson

Professor Sarah J Lewis

Cite this