Children With Prepubertal-Onset Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Grown up

83 subjects with onset of major depressive disorder, 44 subjects with anxiety disorder & no major depressive disorder, & 91 subjects with no evidence of past or current psychiatric disorders were assessed by 2 psychiatrists before puberty & were evaluated 10-15 years later as adults. The clinical outcome of children with prepubertal-onset major depressive disorder includes a high risk of suicide attempts (nearly 3-fold compared with normal controls & 2-fold compared with children with anxiety) & bipolar disorder. Continuity & specificity of major depressive disorder or anxiety disorder in adulthood is less clear. (37 refs.)