Depression
in Teens Can Affect Adult Happiness
Adults
who experienced even a single bout of major depressive disorder
(MDD) in adolescence are likely to demonstrate pervasive psychosocial
impairment, according to research by psychologist Peter Lewinsohn,
PhD, of the Oregon Research Institute, published in the Journal
of Abnormal Psychology in August 2003.
Young
adults who had experienced an episode of MDD, regardless of other
factors, exhibited pervasive impairments across psychosocial functioning,
including occupational performance, interpersonal functioning,
quality of life and physical well-being. Most poignantly, Lewinsohn
says, when other factors were controlled, adolescent MDD translated
into greatly reduced life satisfaction.
The
research suggests that depression in adolescence indicated a broad,
lasting tendency toward psychosocial problems that should be seen
as a serious, stand-alone risk factor.
September
2003
