EARLY DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY STUDY (EDSP) - OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN

The primary and secondary objectives of the Early Developmental Stages of Substance Abuse Study (EDSP) are described along with a detailed d escription of the overall design, special design features and instrume nts used. The EDSP is a 5-year prospective study with three waves of a ssessments. Special design features are the linkages with family genet ic investigations as well as neuroendocrinological stress tests in hig h-risk subjects. Overall, 3,021 adolescents and young adults aged 14-2 4 years are included. The response rate for the baseline investigation was 71%. Diagnostic assessments were made by using a modified lifetim e (baseline) and 12-month change version of the WHO-CIDI, adjusted for DSM-IV. Modifications refer to a more detailed quantitative assessmen t of symptoms and substance use variables as well as the inclusion of questions to assess course of disorders and subthreshold diagnostic co nditions.