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Developmental pathways from childhood conduct problems to early adult depression: findings from the ALSPAC cohort

Argyris Stringaris¹, Glyn Lewis¹, Barbara Maughan¹

¹Argyris Stringaris, MD, PhD, MRCPsych, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London; Glyn Lewis, PhD, Division of Psychiatry, University College London; Barbara Maughan, PhD, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.

The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science

|April 26, 2014

Abstract

Background:

Pathways from early-life conduct problems to young adult depression remain poorly understood.

Aims:

To test developmental pathways from early-life conduct problems to depression at age 18.

Method:

Data (n = 3542) came from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Previously derived conduct problem trajectories (ages 4-13 years) were used to examine associations with depression from ages 10 to 18 years, and the role of early childhood factors as potential confounders.

Results:

Over 43% of young adults with depression in the ALSPAC cohort had a history of child or adolescent conduct problems, yielding a population attributable fraction of 0.15 (95% CI 0.08-0.22). The association between conduct problems and depression at age 18 was considerable even after adjusting for prior depression (odds ratio 1.55, 95% CI 1.24-1.94). Early-onset persistent conduct problems carried the highest risk for later depression. Irritability characterised depression for those with a history of conduct problems.

Conclusions:

Early-life conduct problems are robustly associated with later depressive disorder and may be useful targets for early intervention.

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