Early pubertal timing predicts onset and recurrence of depressive episodes in boys and girls

Background Recurrent depressive episodes during adolescence result in significant impairment and increased risk for subsequent adverse outcomes throughout the life span. Evidence suggests that early pubertal timing predicts the onset of depressive episodes (particularly for girls); however, it is no...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of child psychology and psychiatry 2020-11, Vol.61 (11), p.1266-1274
Main Authors: Hamlat, Elissa J., McCormick, Kathleen C., Young, Jami F., Hankin, Benjamin L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescent girls
Age of Onset
Bipolar disorder
Child
Child & adolescent psychiatry
Child Development
Depression
Depression - epidemiology
Depression - psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Mental depression
Parents
Physical growth
Psychology, Adolescent
Puberty
Recurrence
Recurrent
Risk Factors
Time Factors
Youth
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Summary:Background Recurrent depressive episodes during adolescence result in significant impairment and increased risk for subsequent adverse outcomes throughout the life span. Evidence suggests that early pubertal timing predicts the onset of depressive episodes (particularly for girls); however, it is not known if pubertal timing prospectively predicts recurrent depressive episodes in youth. Methods At baseline, 603 youth (56% female, at baseline: Mage = 12.09, SD = 2.35) reported on their pubertal development. Youth and their parents completed a semistructured diagnostic interview to assess depressive episodes at baseline and then evaluated for onset repeatedly every 6 months for a period of 36 months. Results Controlling for past history of depression, Cox proportional hazards models examined whether earlier pubertal timing predicted (a) days to first depressive episode from baseline and (b) days to a second (recurrent) depressive episode from the end of the first episode. Early pubertal timing predicted the onset of the first depressive episode after baseline (b = .19, Wald = 5.36, p = .02, HR = 1.21), as well as a recurrent episode during course of study follow‐up episode (b = .32, Wald = 6.16, p = .01, HR = 1.38). Conclusions Findings reinforce the importance of considering the impact of early pubertal timing on depression risk. Investigation on how pubertal timing interacts with other risk factors to predict depression recurrence is needed.
ISSN:0021-9630
1469-7610
DOI:10.1111/jcpp.13198