Depression In Late Adolescence Research Articles

Trajectory of depressive symptoms over adolescence in autistic and neurotypical youth

BackgroundAdolescence coincides with a dramatic rise in the onset of psychiatric conditions including depression. Depression symptoms may be particularly prevalent and impairing for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While prior research suggests adolescence is associated with worsening depression symptoms for typically developing (TD) and autistic youth, it is unclear if they follow a similar course.MethodThe study examined the trajectory of depressive symptoms in autistic and neurotypical youth over a 4-year longitudinal study using linear and logistic mixed effects models. In youth with clinically relevant depressive scores (t-score > 65), moderating factors (i.e., diagnosis, age, puberty, sex) were explored. During Year 1, the sample included 244 youth 10-to-13 years: 140 in the ASD group (36 females) and 104 in the TD group (46 females).ResultsAutistic youth had elevated depression scores compared to TD peers (p < 0.001) and females were higher than males in both groups (p = 0.001). There was significant diagnosis by age (p < 0.001) and diagnosis by pubertal stage (p < 0.05) interactions. In the ASD group, elevated depressive scores presented in early adolescence and decreased during middle adolescence and puberty, whereas the TD group showed the opposite trend with an increase in depression symptoms with advancing development.LimitationsLimitations include an unequal sex distribution (fewer females), non-representative autistic sample (e.g., cognition and race/ethnicity), and potential confound of the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionsAutistic youth present with higher rates of depressive symptoms early in development; yet, approaching middle adolescence and puberty, the symptom trajectory in the autistic youth declines coinciding with an increase in the TD youth. While group trajectories are divergent, they lead to similar levels of depression in late adolescence with higher symptoms in females. Findings suggest a period of quiescence in depressive symptomology influenced by biopsychosocial factors impacting affective profiles.

Social support against depression in young adults' group during COVID-19 pandemic.

The present study aimed at analyzing the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a group of learning young adults, as well as the social support as a predictor of depression in late adolescence during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online national survey of young adults attending schools was conducted. The semi-structured questionnaire, including a section on sociodemographic data, stressors, needs and sources of support, as well as brief version of the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale, was distributed to young Poles. The final sample consisted of 1,500 students aged 18-23. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the relationships between support needs and sources and depressive symptoms. The support needs that are most commonly reported by young adults are support from loved ones (family, friends) (n = 843; 56.2%) and teachers (e.g., care, appreciation) (n = 603; 40.2%). Fifty-six per cent of Polish young adults are experiencing significant depressive symptoms (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.82-13.96). Young adults with no social support had higher KADS score than participants reporting some form of support (b = 1.794; 95% BCa CI = 0.659, 2.947). Participants receiving support from mother, both parents and siblings had a lower severity of depressive symptoms, while young people receiving support from father had more severe symptoms. This study provides initial findings in terms of depressive symptoms and support needs of young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative for mental health services, communities and schools to provide the necessary support to young adults.

Association of Depressive Symptoms in Late Adolescence and School Dropout

The present study investigated the association between symptoms of depression in late adolescence and completion of upper secondary school, taking symptoms of ADHD and conduct disorder, and parental education into account. The study is based on the youth@hordaland-survey, conducted in Western Norway in 2012. A total of 9157 adolescents (aged 16–19 years, 53% girls) consented to participation and registry linkage and comprised the sample of the present study. Symptoms of depression, ADHD, and conduct disorder were based on adolescent self-report. Information on parental education, grade point average (GPA), and upper secondary school completion was retrieved from the National Education Database. In the sample, 14.8% had not completed upper secondary education within 5 years. Symptoms of depression were associated with higher odds of failure to graduate within 5 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.50). The association was attenuated but remained significant when adjusting for symptoms of ADHD, conduct disorder, and parental education. Adolescents reporting high levels of both depression and conduct disorder had the highest odds of dropout (AOR = 4.15). GPA partially mediated the association between symptoms of depression and dropout. The results show a consistent, but small association between symptoms of depression in late adolescence and failure to complete upper secondary education within five years. Given the high rate of depressive symptoms in the adolescent population, it is important to identify protective factors that promote school functioning and graduation for adolescents experiencing such symptoms.

Medial prefrontal brain activity correlates with emerging symptoms of anxiety and depression in late adolescence: A fNIRS study

The brain undergoes dramatic changes over the course of the adolescent years, and these developmental changes are implicated in the emergence of disorders that involve negative emotionality. Late adolescence might be the window within which brain networks manifest vulnerabilities to depressive and anxiety symptomology; particularly within the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which houses emotional control (dorsolateral) and emotional processing (medial) nodes. Given the comorbidity of depressive and anxious symptomology, it may be that the neural signature is similar for both within the developing PFC. In a sample of 67 adolescents (M=15.97 years, SD=1.36), we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine the neural signature of emergent anxiety and depressive symptoms among younger and older adolescents. We further examined the extent to which neural signatures of anxiety and depressive symptoms within the PFC were similar or different. Findings revealed that self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms were highly correlated, and that the neural signatures of both within the PFC were similar, corresponding with the medial subregions of the PFC (i.e., those involved in evaluative processing). These findings were evident only in later adolescence, suggesting the possibility of a common vulnerability for anxiety and depressive disorders emerging around this developmental window.

Maternal and paternal mental health problems and the risk of offspring depression in late adolescence: findings from the Raine study

Background There are limited studies on the risk of depressive symptoms in adolescent offspring exposed to parental mental health problems in middle childhood. Aim We investigated the association between parental mental health problems, particularly paternal emotional problems and maternal symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the risk of depressive symptoms in adolescent offspring aged 17. Methods The study included 995 parent-offspring pairs from the 1989–91 birth cohort (the Raine Study) in Western Australia. Log-binomial regression was used to assess the associations. Results An increased risk of depression symptoms was observed in the adolescent offspring of mothers with depressive [RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.13–1.86] as well as anxiety symptoms [RR 1.43, 95% CI 1.09–1.87].Compared to those non-exposed, offspring whose mothers reported comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms were more likely to have developed depressive symptoms by late adolescence [RR 1.63, 95%CI 1.11–2.38]. An increased risk of depressive symptoms was also seen in the offspring of fathers with emotional problems [RR 1.29, 95%CI 1.01–1.53]. Conclusion Our findings suggest an increased risk of depressive symptoms in the adolescent offspring of parents with mental health problems, specifically paternal emotional problems (29%) and maternal anxiety (43%), depression (45%), as well as comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms (63%).

The Interactive Effects of Child Maltreatment and Adolescent Pregnancy on Late-Adolescent Depressive Symptoms.

Adolescent females are disproportionately at risk for depression, which is expected to represent the leading cause of disability in 2030 (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH] 2019). Although prior research has suggested that both child maltreatment and adolescent pregnancy increase the risk for depressive symptoms, less is known about how these two interact to influence depression in late adolescence. The present study tested the unique and interactive effects of adolescent pregnancy and child maltreatment on late-adolescent depressive symptomatology (N = 186) with a prospective, longitudinal design that utilized documented records of maltreatment and included demographically comparable (i.e., economically disadvantaged), nonmaltreated and non-pregnant comparisons. Participants were assessed at ages 10-12 and 18-21. Structural equation modeling was used to test whether adolescent pregnancy amplified the effect of child maltreatment on late-adolescent depressive symptoms. In the context of economic disadvantage, results indicated that the effect of child maltreatment on late-adolescent depressive symptoms was significantly enhanced for those who experienced an adolescent pregnancy. This effect remained after controlling for prior depressive symptoms, peer and maternal relationship quality, and romantic relationship violence. The findings are translated to preliminary guidance for practitioners regarding precision depression screening and tailored preventive interventions.​.

Life Writing Therapy Decreases Depression in Late Adolescence

Introduction: Late adolescence (16-18 years old) usually experiences a crucial period in life which makes teenagers vulnerable to mood disorders such as depression. One of the interventions that can decrease depression is writing a memoir, biography, diary, and life writing. Writing can disclose the feeling and help mind care. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of life writing therapy to decrease depression in late adolescence.Methods: This study used pretest-post-test control group design with 40 people as samples, divided into intervention and control groups. Before and after the treatment, both groups were measured using the scale of the PHQ-9A to see the depression in late adolescence of high school students.Results: Life writing therapy shows differences in mean between intervention group and control group with a p-value of 0.000 (α &lt;0.05).Conclusion: The life writing therapy has an effect in reducing depression in students. It facilitates subjects to evaluate, analyze, and reassess past, current and future events so that subjects can get an understanding, develop a solution and self-motivation, accept the existing situation, learn from what is experienced, focus thoughts on positive things, and assess positive things from an event.

Effects of behavioral activation program without psychotropic medication treatment for depression in late adolescence: case report

BackgroundA Japanese study revealed that 20.7% of first-year undergraduate students had a major depressive episode during the previous 12 months: first-year undergraduate students with depression need early support. Reportedly, antidepressant medication use during adolescence is associated with modestly increased risk of suicidality. This case study of a late-adolescent woman with depression illustrates the effects of behavioral activation without psychotropic medication.Case presentationA first-year undergraduate student was diagnosed as having major depressive disorder. From earlier studies, we developed a behavioral activation program for late-adolescent people with major depressive disorder. Behavioral activation administered in 10 weekly 60-minute sessions decreased depressive symptoms, avoidant behaviors, and rumination. Moreover, the Beck Depression Inventory, second version score was 1 at 1-year follow-up.ConclusionResults of this case study show that behavioral activation is effective without psychotropic medication. Future studies of large samples must be conducted to assess the effectiveness of behavioral activation without psychotropic medication for depression in late adolescence.

Predictive value of dysregulation profile trajectories in childhood for symptoms of ADHD, anxiety and depression in late adolescence.

We examined whether there are certain dysregulation profile trajectories in childhood that may predict an elevated risk for mental disorders in later adolescence. Participants (N=554) were drawn from a representative community sample of German children, 7-11years old, who were followed over four measurement points (baseline, 1, 2 and 6years later). Dysregulation profile, derived from the parent report of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, was measured at the first three measurement points, while symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and depression were assessed at the fourth measurement point. We used latent class growth analysis to investigate developmental trajectories in the development of the dysregulation profile. The predictive value of dysregulation profile trajectories for later ADHD, anxiety and depression was examined by linear regression. For descriptive comparison, the predictive value of a single measurement (baseline) was calculated. Dysregulation profile was a stable trait during childhood. Boys and girls had similar levels of dysregulation profile over time. Two developmental subgroups were identified, namely the low dysregulation profile and the high dysregulation profile trajectory. The group membership in the high dysregulation profile trajectory (n=102) was best predictive of later ADHD, regardless of an individual's gender and age. It explained 11% of the behavioural variance. For anxiety this was 8.7% and for depression 5.6%, including some gender effects. The single-point measurement was less predictive. An enduring high dysregulation profile in childhood showed some predictive value for psychological functioning 4years later. Hence, it might be helpful in the preventive monitoring of children at risk.

"Relationship between Irrational Beliefs and Depression in Late Adolescence "

The present study was aimed at examining the relationship between Irrational Beliefs and Depression among the late adolescent college students (N=502). Studies have found depression to be one of the most crippling disorders and the leading cause for suicide among all age groups and that this state is primarily being caused by wrong thinking and belief patterns such as irrational beliefs and further irrational beliefs are being maintained due to the depressed state of the individual. Hence the present study apart from analyzing the directions of possible relationship of Irrational Beliefs with Depression, reviews the existing literature to showcase how one causes and maintains the other.

LOCUS OF CONTROL IN LATE ADOLESCENCE: CHARACTERISTICS AND ABILITY OF NEW STUDENTS TO OVERCOME DEPRESSION

The aim of this study is to uncover and gain some factual data about locus of control (LOC) ability to overcome depression in late adolescence. This study was conducted through survey methods on new under-graduate students aged 18 to 21 years old from English Education program in Mathla’ul Anwar University of Banten at first semester of academic year 2015-2016. The result of study showed that majority of the students has internal LOC. The sudents who have external LOC tend to get more depressed than those who pose internal LOC. The numbers of women who get depressed are more than men. The finding also showed positive influence of reading book in gaining capacity of LOC. Depression can be avoided and prevented by spiritual and mental strengthening, such as being closer to God, spending quality time with parents, siblings and friends, doing some new hobbies and activities, getting involved in fun daily activities, and trying to identify sense of fear of being rejected or guilty feelings.

Depression in late adolescence and the risk of future work disability

Background Mood disorders are common among adolescents and it is also well known that most common mental disorders diagnosed in adulthood begin already in adolescence. To date little is known about work disability in terms of sickness absence (SA) and disability pension (DP) in young adulthood as a result of mood disorders in adolescence. The aim was to study whether depression in late adolescence is associated …

Education as a social pathway from parental socioeconomic position to depression in late adolescence and early adulthood: a Finnish population-based register study

There is inconsistent evidence for social differentials in the risk of depression in youth, and little is known about how education at this age influences the risk. We assess how parental socioeconomic position (SEP) and education predict depression from late adolescence to early adulthood, a time of major educational transitions. We followed a nationally representative 20% sample of Finnish adolescents born in 1986-1990 (n=60,829) over two educational transitory stages at the age of 17-19 and 20-23 covering the years 2003-2011. We identified incident depression using health care register data. We estimated the risk of depression by parental SEP and personal education using Cox regression, adjusting for family structure, parental depression and the individual's own psychiatric history. Lower parental income was associated with up to a twofold risk of depression. This effect was almost fully attributable to other parental characteristics or mediated by the individual's own education. Educational differences in risk were attenuated following adjustment for prior psychiatric history. Adjusted for all covariates, not being in education increased the risk up to 2.5-fold compared to being enrolled in general upper secondary school at the age of 17-19 and in tertiary education at the age of 20-23. Vocationally oriented women experienced a 20% higher risk than their academically oriented counterparts in both age groups. Education constitutes a social pathway from parental SEP to the risk of depression in youth, whereby educational differences previously shown in adults are observed already before the establishment of adulthood SEP.

PS228. Subthreshold depression persists and increases the risk for depression in late adolescence: a one-year cohort study.

PS228. Subthreshold depression persists and increases the risk for depression in late adolescence: a one-year cohort study.

Depression in late adolescence: a cross-sectional study in senior high schools in Greece.

BackgroundDepression is a common mental health problem in adolescents worldwide. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, comorbidity and sociodemographic and socioeconomic associations of depression and depressive symptoms, as well as the relevant health services use in a sample of adolescents in Greece.MethodsFive thousand six hundred fourteen adolescents aged 16–18 years old and attending 25 senior high schools were screened and a stratified random sample of 2,427 were selected for a detailed interview. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed with a fully structured psychiatric interview, the revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R). The use of substances, such as alcohol, nicotine and cannabis, and several sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables have been also assessed.ResultsIn our sample the prevalence rates were 5.67 % for the depressive episode according to ICD-10 and 17.43 % for a broader definition of depressive symptoms. 49.38 % of the adolescents with depressive episode had at least one comorbid anxiety disorder [OR: 7.76 (5.52-10.92)]. Only 17.08 % of the adolescents with depression have visited a doctor due to a psychological problem during the previous year. Anxiety disorders, substance use, female gender, older age, having one sibling, and divorce or separation of the parents were all associated with depression. In addition, the presence of financial difficulties in the family was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of both depression and depressive symptoms.ConclusionsPrevalence and comorbidity rates of depression among Greek adolescents are substantial. Only a small minority of depressed adolescents seek professional help. Significant associations with financial difficulties are reported.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12888-015-0584-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Neural markers of familial risk for depression: An investigation of cortical thickness abnormalities in healthy adolescent daughters of mothers with recurrent depression.

Having a mother with major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the strongest predictors of depression in late adolescence and early adulthood. Despite this fact, we know little about the neural mechanisms involved in the intergenerational transmission of risk for depression. Twenty-eight never-disordered daughters of recurrent depressed mothers (high-risk) and 36 never-disordered daughters of never-depressed mothers (low-risk) were scanned using MRI. Scan data were processed to provide measurements of cortical gray matter thickness. A general linear model was conducted at each surface point to assess the main effect of familial risk on cortical structure as well as to explore the interaction of familial risk and age. High-risk girls exhibited significantly thinner cortical gray matter in the right fusiform gyrus relative to low-risk girls. Exploratory analyses indicated interactions of risk group and age in the bilateral anterior insula and right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC); whereas low-risk girls exhibited an inverse association between age and thickness, girls at high risk for depression showed the reverse pattern. Additional exploratory analyses, using scores on the Children's Sadness Management Scale, indicated that thinner gray matter in the ACC of high-risk girls was associated with greater difficulty in managing sadness. These findings indicate that anomalous reductions in the cortical thickness of the fusiform gyrus may be a marker of risk for MDD. The interaction of age and group for gray matter thickness of the insula and ACC suggests a particularly important role for these regions in risk for depression and warrants additional research in longitudinal studies.

Gratitude and depression in young adults: The mediating role of self-esteem and well-being

This study examined both the mediation effects of self-esteem and psychological well-being for the relationship between gratitude and depression in late adolescence. Two hundred and thirty-five Taiwanese university students completed the measures of gratitude, self-esteem, psychological well-being, and depression. Path analyses indicated that self-esteem and psychological well-being acted as full mediators of the association between gratitude and depression. The identified model also revealed a significant path from gratitude through self-esteem and psychological well-being to depression. A multi-group analysis found that the paths did not differ by genders. Implications for future research and limitations of the present findings are discussed.

Allergic rhinitis in adolescence increases the risk of depression in later life: A nationwide population-based prospective cohort study

Background: Many cross-sectional studies have suggested an association between allergic rhinitis (AR) and depression, but the timing relationship was not determined. Using a nationwide population-based prospective cohort study (1:4, age-/gender-matched), we hypothesized that AR in adolescence would increase the risk of depression in later life. MethodsIn all, 1673 adolescents aged 12–15 that had AR between 1996 and 2000 were recruited for our study. Cases of major depressive disorder and any depressive disorder that occurred to the end of follow-up (December 31, 2010) were identified. ResultAdolescents with AR had a higher prevalence of major depression (2.5% vs. 1.2%, p<0.001) and any depressive disorder (4.9% vs. 2.8%, p<0.001) and an earlier onset of major depression (19.31±2.91 vs. 20.43±2.71 years, p=0.038) and any depressive disorder (19.35±2.63 vs. 20.43±2.62 years, p=0.002) compared with the controls. The Cox regression model showed that adolescents with AR had increased HRs of major depression (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02–2.50) and any depressive disorder (HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04–1.93) after controlling residence location and comorbid allergic diseases. LimitationsThe prevalence of depressive disorder may be underestimated because only those who had medicine-seeking behaviors were enrolled. ConclusionsThis first cohort case–control study showed an association between AR in early adolescence and depression in late adolescence and early adulthood. Our results suggested that allergic responses played important roles in the development of depression.

Mechanistic Approach to Understanding Psychosis Risk in Velocardiofacial Syndrome

Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS), the most common chromosomal microdeletion syndrome in humans, is caused by a heterozygous deletion of chromosome 22q11.2. With an incidence of 1/2000-1/6000, it is associated with a vast array of abnormalities such as congenital heart disease, palatal dysfunction, immune deficiency, hypoparathyroidism and cognitive impairment. In addition to the numerous medical and developmental problems, retrospective studies in the last decade have reported a markedly high incidence (∼ 40%) of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression in late adolescence and adulthood in individuals with the deletion. This risk of schizophrenia spectrum disorders in VCFS approaches that of a monozygotic twin of a patient with schizophrenia, or that of an individual with both parents with schizophrenia. These observations provide the strongest known link between psychosis and an identified genetic condition. In recent years, schizophrenia has been viewed as a neurodevelopmental disorder. This neurodevelopmental theory suggests that neurocognitive and neuroanatomical abnormalities often precede the development of overt psychosis. Genetic factors are thought to be contributory to these neurodevelopmental anomalies that are thought to ultimately culminate in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, gene identification has largely been unsuccessful, due to the complex nature of the inheritance of the genes and the probability that multiple genes of individual modest effect are involved. Identification of predisposing genetic markers would enable identification of a high-risk group that would enable the prospective study of the factors contributing to psychosis. The presence of a known genetic abnormality that causes neurodevelopmental deficits, confers a high-risk of psychosis and since the signs, symptoms and response to treatment of schizophrenia secondary to VCFS are thought to be no different to that in primary schizophrenic illness, it has been suggested that VCFS represents an ideal model for the study of the factors contributing to schizophrenia. This article delineates the current understanding of the psychological and psychiatric findings, brain morphometric abnormalities and genetic studies in VCFS and their relevance to schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

The Effect of Intergenerational Conflict and School-Based Racial Discrimination on Depression and Academic Achievement in Filipino American Adolescents

Bronfenbrenner's ecological model postulates the home and school to be key microsystems in fostering emotional well-being and school functioning in children. Utilizing a sample of 663 Filipino American adolescents who participated in the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS), we assessed the effect of intergenerational conflict at home and racial discrimination at school on their mental health and academic achievement. Cross-sectionally, intergenerational conflict and school-based racial discrimination increased depression and decreased academic achievement in early adolescence. Longitudinally, conflict and discrimination in early adolescence decreased academic performance while conflict alone increased depression in late adolescence. Implications of the findings were discussed.