SHORT-TERM PROGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION IN ADULTS WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME - ASSOCIATION WITH THYROID STATUS AND EFFECTS ON ADAPTIVE-BEHAVIOR

Findings for Down's syndrome adults with depression were compared to t hose for non-depressed Down's syndrome controls. Mean age of onset of depression was 30.1 years, the majority of subjects were female and bi ological more so than psychotic symptoms were presenting features. No statistically significant association between depression and thyroid d ysfunction was found. For the depressed group, scores for level of ada ptive functioning were significantly lower and those for maladaptive b ehaviour significantly higher. At one-year follow-up, although some im provement was found, the majority of depressed subjects were still sym ptomatic. The short-term prognosis for depression in adults with Down' s syndrome appears to be poor but possibly better the earlier the age of onset.