The Maudsley long-term follow-up of child and adolescent depression: 2. Suicidality, criminality and social dysfunction in adulthood

• Published in: British journal of psychiatry Vol. 179; no. 3; pp. 218 - 223
• Main Authors: FOMBONNE, ERIC, WOSTEAR, GAIL, COOPER, VANNESA, HARRINGTON, RICHARD, RUTTER, MICHAEL
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England RCP 01.09.2001; Cambridge University Press
• Subjects: Adjustment; Adjustment disorder; Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Age; Algorithms; Behavior; Certificates; Child; Comorbidity; Conduct disorder; Conduct Disorder - complications; Conduct Disorder - psychology; Crime - psychology; Criminal records; Criminality; Death certificates; Depressive Disorder - complications; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Depressive personality disorders; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Interviews; Male; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Offenses; Personality disorders; Prognosis; Psychiatry; Ratings & rankings; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia; Social Adjustment; Social Behavior Disorders - etiology; Social interactions; Social research; Socioeconomic Factors; Suicide; Suicide - psychology; Suicides & suicide attempts; Teenagers; United Kingdom > UK
• ISSN: 0007-1250; 1472-1465
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.179.3.218

Strong links exist between juvenile and adult depression, but comorbid conduct disorder may be associated with worse adult social difficulties. To test the impact of comorbid conduct disorder on social adjustment and dysfunction, suicidality and criminality of adults who had had depression as youths. Subjects (n=149) assessed at the Maudsley Hospital in 1970-1983 and meeting DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder with (CD-MDD; n=53) or without (MDD; n=96) conduct disorder were interviewed 20 years later. Data were collected on lifetime psychiatric disorders and adult social/personality functioning. Death certificates and criminal records were obtained. The suicide risk was 2.45%, and 44.3% of the sample had attempted suicide once in their lives. Compared with the MDD group, the CD-MDD group had higher rates of suicidal behaviours and criminal offences, and exhibited more pervasive social dysfunction. Adolescent depression is associated with raised risks of adult suicidality and with persistent interpersonal difficulties. Youths with CD-MDD show more severe and pervasive social dysfunction.