Je. Alpert et al., CHILDHOOD PSYCHOPATHOLOGY RETROSPECTIVELY ASSESSED AMONG ADULTS WITH EARLY-ONSET MAJOR DEPRESSION, Journal of affective disorders, 31(3), 1994, pp. 165-171
Prevalence and impact of comorbidity in early onset major depressive d
isorder were studied in 116 depressed adult outpatients whose onset of
first major depressive episode occurred by age 18. Eighty-eight perce
nt of these patients had at least one additional comorbid Axis I lifet
ime diagnosis including: social phobia (28%), simple phobia (16%), alc
ohol (17%) and cannabis (13%) abuse/dependence, and bulimia nervosa (8
%). Comorbid anxiety disorders preceded the onset of major depression
in two-thirds of individuals while comorbid substance abuse/dependence
followed the onset of major depression in two-thirds and predicted mo
re frequent occurrences into adulthood. In contrast to frequency of ep
isodes, severity and duration of an index episode of major depression
were not influenced by comorbidity.