TY - JOUR
T1 - Early and late onset depression in young and middle aged adults: Differential symptomatology, characteristics and risk factors?
AU - Korten, N.C.M.
AU - Comijs, H.C.
AU - Lamers, F.
AU - Penninx, B.W.J.H.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Background: Early onset depression (EOD) and late onset depression (LOD) may be different phenomena. In this study, differences between EOD and LOD in symptomatology, psychiatric characteristics and psychosocial/somatic factors were examined. Methods: Baseline data were from 1104 participants with a current major depressive disorder participating in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (age range 18-65 years). DSM-IV diagnoses, depressive symptoms and age of onset were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Analyses were performed by using a continuous as well as a dichotomous (cut-off 40 years) age of onset indicator. Results: Differences between EOD and LOD were observed: longer duration of symptoms (p <.001), a personal history of depressive episodes (p <.001), a serious suicide attempt (p <.001), childhood events (p <.001), a family history of depression (p =.03), and high neuroticism (p <.001) were more often present in EOD than in LOD. Also differences in symptomatology were observed: feelings of sadness (p <.001), diminished concentration (p =.02) and suicidal thoughts (p =.001) were significantly less prevalent at a higher age of onset, whereas decreased appetite/weight loss (p =.01) was more prominent at a higher age of onset. Limitations: The age of first depression onset was asked retrospectively and might be biased by selective recall. However, participants can likely recall whether symptoms started earlier or later in life. Conclusions: Despite similarities, our observed differential findings in symptoms, psychiatric characteristics, and psychosocial factors between EOD and LOD further support that EOD is associated with more frequent occurrence of some clinical features of depression. These differential findings are important factors to keep in mind for diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
AB - Background: Early onset depression (EOD) and late onset depression (LOD) may be different phenomena. In this study, differences between EOD and LOD in symptomatology, psychiatric characteristics and psychosocial/somatic factors were examined. Methods: Baseline data were from 1104 participants with a current major depressive disorder participating in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (age range 18-65 years). DSM-IV diagnoses, depressive symptoms and age of onset were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Analyses were performed by using a continuous as well as a dichotomous (cut-off 40 years) age of onset indicator. Results: Differences between EOD and LOD were observed: longer duration of symptoms (p <.001), a personal history of depressive episodes (p <.001), a serious suicide attempt (p <.001), childhood events (p <.001), a family history of depression (p =.03), and high neuroticism (p <.001) were more often present in EOD than in LOD. Also differences in symptomatology were observed: feelings of sadness (p <.001), diminished concentration (p =.02) and suicidal thoughts (p =.001) were significantly less prevalent at a higher age of onset, whereas decreased appetite/weight loss (p =.01) was more prominent at a higher age of onset. Limitations: The age of first depression onset was asked retrospectively and might be biased by selective recall. However, participants can likely recall whether symptoms started earlier or later in life. Conclusions: Despite similarities, our observed differential findings in symptoms, psychiatric characteristics, and psychosocial factors between EOD and LOD further support that EOD is associated with more frequent occurrence of some clinical features of depression. These differential findings are important factors to keep in mind for diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2012.01.042
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2012.01.042
M3 - Article
C2 - 22370067
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 138
SP - 259
EP - 267
JO - Journal of affective disorders
JF - Journal of affective disorders
IS - 3
ER -