Perinatal cumulative risk scores for depression symptoms in young people from the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2025-01, Vol.369, p.303-311
• Main Authors: Pigatto, Francesca, Grant, Cameron, Marks, Emma, Walker, Caroline, Fletcher, Benjamin, Waldie, Karen E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescence; Adolescent; Child; Cumulative risk; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Longitudinal; Longitudinal Studies; Male; New Zealand - epidemiology; Perinatal; Pregnancy; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk factor; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.143

Adolescent depression has increased markedly over the last decade and often persists into adulthood with a range of adverse outcomes. Identifying the perinatal risk factors contributing to adolescent depression is crucial to advise early interventions. The study included 4563 young people from the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) longitudinal study who completed a questionnaire on depression symptoms at age 12 years (Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CESD-10). Cumulative Risk (CR) scores were created by combining the perinatal risk factors significantly associated with depression symptoms. Then, these CR scores were grouped into three levels and their association with depression symptoms was investigated in univariable and multivariable analyses. We found a statistically significant association between the CR scores (from one to six perinatal risk factors) and depression score at age 12, compared to the no-risk factor group, suggesting a dose-response relationship. In the adjusted analysis, young people exposed to the lower CR score (1–3 risk factors) had a 0.85 unit increase in depression score (p-