Abstract
Highlights
•Adulthood-emerging and childhood-emerging trajectory classes were identified.
•The childhood-emerging class showed a severe and persistent course of depression.
•Most individuals in both classes experienced some functional impairment.
Abstract
Background
Parental depression is a common and potent risk factor for depression in offspring. However, the developmental course of depression from childhood to early-adulthood has not been characterized in this high-risk group.
Methods
Using longitudinal data from 337 young people who had a parent with a history of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD), we characterized trajectories of broadly defined depressive disorder using latent class growth analysis. We used clinical descriptions to further characterise trajectory classes.
Results
Two trajectory classes were identified: childhood-emerging (25 %) and adulthood-emerging (75 %). The childhood-emerging class showed high rates of depressive disorder from age 12.5, which persisted through the study period. The adulthood-emerging class showed low rates of depressive disorder until age 26. Individual factors (IQ and ADHD symptoms) and parent depression severity (comorbidity, persistence and impairment) differentiated the classes but there were no differences in family history score or polygenic scores associated with psychiatric disorder. Clinical descriptions indicated functional impairment in both classes, but more severe symptomatology and impairment in the childhood-emerging class.
Limitations
Attrition particularly affected participation in young adulthood. Factors associated with attrition were low family income, single parent household status and low parental education.
Conclusions
The developmental course of depressive disorder in children of depressed parents is variable. When followed up to adult life, most individuals exhibited some functional impairment. An earlier age-of-onset was associated with a more persistent and impairing course of depression. Access to effective prevention strategies is particularly warranted for at-risk young people showing early-onsetting and persistent depressive symptoms.
•Adulthood-emerging and childhood-emerging trajectory classes were identified.
•The childhood-emerging class showed a severe and persistent course of depression.
•Most individuals in both classes experienced some functional impairment.
Abstract
Background
Parental depression is a common and potent risk factor for depression in offspring. However, the developmental course of depression from childhood to early-adulthood has not been characterized in this high-risk group.
Methods
Using longitudinal data from 337 young people who had a parent with a history of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD), we characterized trajectories of broadly defined depressive disorder using latent class growth analysis. We used clinical descriptions to further characterise trajectory classes.
Results
Two trajectory classes were identified: childhood-emerging (25 %) and adulthood-emerging (75 %). The childhood-emerging class showed high rates of depressive disorder from age 12.5, which persisted through the study period. The adulthood-emerging class showed low rates of depressive disorder until age 26. Individual factors (IQ and ADHD symptoms) and parent depression severity (comorbidity, persistence and impairment) differentiated the classes but there were no differences in family history score or polygenic scores associated with psychiatric disorder. Clinical descriptions indicated functional impairment in both classes, but more severe symptomatology and impairment in the childhood-emerging class.
Limitations
Attrition particularly affected participation in young adulthood. Factors associated with attrition were low family income, single parent household status and low parental education.
Conclusions
The developmental course of depressive disorder in children of depressed parents is variable. When followed up to adult life, most individuals exhibited some functional impairment. An earlier age-of-onset was associated with a more persistent and impairing course of depression. Access to effective prevention strategies is particularly warranted for at-risk young people showing early-onsetting and persistent depressive symptoms.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 66-74 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Affective Disorders |
| Volume | 337 |
| Early online date | 22 May 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Sept 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The work was supported by the Medical Research Council ( MR/R004609/1 ) and The Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health, established with support from the Wolfson Foundation . The cohort was established with funding from the Jules Thorn Charitable Trust (JTA/06). The fourth wave of data collection was funded by Medical Research Council ( MR/R004609/1 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
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