Adolescents' self-reported problems as predictors of psychopathology in adulthood: 10-year follow-up study

Background Knowledge of the course of psychopathology from adolescence into adulthood is needed to answer questions concerning origins and prognosis o f psychopathology across a wide age range. Aims To investigate the 10-year course and predictive value of self-reporte d problems in adolescence in relation to psychopathology in adulthood. Method Subjects from the general population, aged 11-19 years, were assesse d with the Youth Self-Report (YSR) at initial assessment, and with the Youn g Adult Self-Report (YASR), the Composite International Diagnostic Intervie w (CIDI) and three sections of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) 10 y ears later. Results Of the subjects with deviant YSR total problem scores, 23% (males) and 22% (females) had deviant YASR total problem scores at follow-up. Subje cts with initial deviant YSR total problem, internalising and externalising scores had higher prevalences of DSM - lV diagnoses at follow-up. Conclusions Adolescent problems tended to persist into adulthood to a moder ate degree, High rates of problems during adolescence are risk factors for psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Declaration of interest Financially supported by grant number 002827230 fro m the Health Research and Development Council,The Netherlands (Zorgonderzoe k, Nederland).