Prevalence, 20-Month Incidence and Outcome of Unipolar Depressive Disorders in a Community Sample of Adolescents

Data were collected at baseline & 20-month follow-up in a representative population sample of 1228 German adolescents, aged 14-17. The overall cumulative lifetime incidence of any depressive condition was 20.0%, of which about one-third were incident depressions in the period between baseline & follow-up. Dysthymia had the poorest outcome of all, with a complete remission rate of only 33%. Dysthymia also had the highest number of depressive episodes, & the most psychosocial impairment & suicidal behaviour during follow-up. (60 refs.)