Adolescent sorrow may linger through life. Teens who experience a major episode of depression are at greater risk of suffering a low quality of life in adulthood, according to recent research. Furthermore, these teens are more likely to have a depressive relapse later in life.
Peter Lewinsohn, of the Oregon Research Institute, and fellow researchers studied teens with major depressive disorder (MDD) as they grew older. They found that as adults, the disorder had a wide-ranging impact on their lives. They were more likely to perform badly at their jobs, and they had less satisfying social lives than non-depressed individuals.
Overall, the once depressed teens reported a lower quality of life as grown-ups. Along with worse physical health, they experienced more stressful life events. Fewer graduated from college and more had been unemployed in the last year. A large percentage--62.3 to be exact--had developed a mental disorder.
"Our findings emphasize the need for effective interventions," writes Lewinsohn, "and given the high rate of MDD recurrence, effective monitoring and intervention efforts."
