Adolescent versus adult depression: Is risk of recurrence the same?

Major depressive disorder (MDD/depression) is a common and disabling condition that often begins between adolescence and mid-adulthood (Kessler & Bromet, 2013). Around 40% of individuals experience their first episode before age 20, with a median onset of 25 years (Kessler et al., 2005; Malhi & Mann; Schwartz & Timothy, 2009).

Although early-onset depression has been linked to poorer social functioning, reduced quality of life, and higher recurrence (Zisook et al., 2007), direct comparisons with adult-onset depression are limited. Methodological differences in sample selection, outcome definitions, and analyses have made it difficult to determine whether adolescent-onset depression carries higher long-term risk or…