Association between early temperament and depression at 18 years

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Early childhood temperament, specifically high negative emotionality (tendency to display distress), is a potential risk factor for later-onset depression.
• Understanding early predictors of depression is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between childhood temperament at age 6 and the diagnosis of depression at age 18.
• To determine if early negative emotionality predicts adolescent depression.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a large UK cohort.
• Assessed temperament using the Emotionality Activity Sociability Questionnaire at age 6.
• Diagnosed depression using ICD-10 criteria at age 18, adjusting for confounders.

Main Results:

• Children scoring high on emotionality at age 6 had a 20% increased odds (7-36% confidence interval) of receiving a depression diagnosis at age 18.
• This finding remained significant after adjusting for potential confounding factors.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent depression exhibits an early developmental diathesis, indicating origins in early childhood.
• Identifying children with high negative emotionality may allow for early identification of individuals at risk for developing depression in young adulthood.