FIRST-EPISODE MAJOR DEPRESSIVE AND DYSTHYMIC DISORDER IN CHILDHOOD - CLINICAL AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS IN RECOVERY

Objective: To characterize the temporal pattern of depressive disorder in childhood, the first episode of depression was examined, focusing on recovery and its baseline predictors. Method: The sample includes 1 12 clinically referred 8- to 13-year-olds with first-episode major dep ressive or dysthymic disorder participating in a naturalistic follow-u p study. Psychiatric diagnoses were based on standardized interviews a nd operational criteria. Recovery was modeled by multivariate procedur es using baseline clinical and demographic predictors. Results: Recove ry rates were 86% and 7% for major depression and dysthymia, respectiv ely, 2 years after onset. Median duration of major depression was 9 mo nths and was predicted only by underlying dysthymia. Median duration o f dysthymic disorder was 3.9 years and was predicted only by comorbid externalizing disorder. In post hoc analyses, no positive treatment ef fects were detected. Conclusions: First-episode depression in youths i s persistent, it generally appears to run its own course, and its natu ralistic treatment requires scrutiny. However, because comorbid extern alizing disorder apparently affects duration of dysthymia, interventio n for behavior problems may shorten this type of depression.