CHILDHOOD PSYCHOPATHOLOGY RETROSPECTIVELY ASSESSED AMONG ADULTS WITH EARLY-ONSET MAJOR DEPRESSION

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.