Effect of age at Onset on the Course of Major Depressive Disorder

This study enrolled outpatients 18-75 years of age with nonpsychotic major depressive disorder from both primary & psychiatric care practices. Participants estimated the age at which they experienced the onset of their first major depressive episode & were accordingly placed in one of 5 groups: childhood onset (less than 12 years); adolescent onset (ages 12-17); early adult onset (ages 18-44); middle adult onset (ages 45-59), & late adult onset (age 60 & older). No group clearly stood out from the others but an earlier onset was associated with more lifetime depressive episodes, suicide attempts, greater symptom severity, & suicide ideation in the index episode. (24 refs.)