Long-term follow-up of adolescent depression. A population-based study

  • HANNES BOHMAN Department of Neuroscience, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Sweden
  • ULF JONSSON Department of Neuroscience, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Sweden; and Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Sweden
  • AIVAR PÄÄREN Department of Neuroscience, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Sweden
  • ANNE-LIIS VON KNORRING Department of Neuroscience, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Sweden
  • GUNILLA OLSSON Department of Neuroscience, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Sweden
  • LARS VON KNORRING Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Sweden
Keywords: Adolescent depression, child-birth, health care, long-term follow-up, population-based sample, pregnancy

Abstract

Adolescent depression is common. Earlier studies indicate that relapses and recurrences are common. But many questions are still unanswered. The aim of the present study has been to follow subjects with adolescent depressions, identified in a population-based study, over a 15-year period. Subjects with adolescent depression (n = 362) and a comparison group (n = 250) were followed in the National Swedish registers.

The formerly depressed females had significantly more out-patient visits, and a significantly higher proportion (78.4% versus 69.6%) had at least one out-patient visit. Among the males, no significant differences were found as concerns out-patient visits. The formerly depressed females had significantly more in-patient stays (3.6 versus 2.4) and a significantly higher total number of in-patient days (27.4 versus 10.1). A significantly higher proportion had in-patient days due to mental disorders (9.5% versus 4.6%), in particular anxiety disorders (4.9% versus 1.0%). As concerns the males, a significantly higher proportion had in-patient days due to mental disorders (16.5% versus 1.8%), in particular alcohol and drug abuse (7.6% versus 0%).

Among the formerly depressed females there were no significant differences against the comparison group as concerns the proportion of being a mother, number of children per woman, or age at first child. However, a significantly higher proportion of the formerly depressed females had had different, usually mild, disorders related to pregnancy (8.6% versus 0.6%). The children of the women with adolescent depressions were not affected.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Published
2010-01-24
How to Cite
BOHMAN H., JONSSON U., PÄÄREN A., VON KNORRING A.-L., OLSSON G., & VON KNORRING L. (2010). Long-term follow-up of adolescent depression. A population-based study. Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences, 115(1), 21–29. https://doi.org/10.3109/03009730903572057
Section
Original Articles