Adolescents who experience persistent depression appear to be at greater risk of abnormal psychosocial and mental functioning in young adulthood than those who have episodic depression, research reveals.
“Both from a developmental and clinical point of view the question arises whether depressive symptoms in the community are more of a transitory and episodic character or have a more lasting impact on adult life,” observe Hans-Christoph Steinhausen and colleagues from University of Zurich in Switzerland.
Persistent depression appeared to have a significantly greater impact on psychosocial and mental functioning than episodic depression.
Persistent depressive symptoms are related to poor adaptation, say the researchers in the Journal of Affective Disorders.