A controlled prospective study of DSM-III adjustment disorder in childhood. Short-term prognosis and long-term predictive validity.

OBJECTIVES: Using DSM-III criteria for adjustment disorder (AD), further operationalized by requiring at least three clinically significant symptoms, we sought to characterize this diagnosis in terms of presenting features, recovery, and predictive validity among juveniles. DESIGN: The samples included clinically referred, 8- to 13-year-old patients with the research diagnosis of AD (N = 30) and a high rate of comorbid disorders and age-and comorbid disorder-matched psychopathologic controls (N = 26). As part of a naturalistic, longitudinal, nosologic study, patients were repeatedly examined during an average follow-up interval of 7 to 8 years. RESULTS: Adjustment disorder was associated with six symptoms, on average, and 60% of the patients had other, specific psychiatric disorders. Adjustment disorder had a median episode length of 7 months and a 97% recovery rate. Comorbidity had no appreciable effect on recovery. Patients with adjustment disorder and controls had similar rates of new psychiatric disorders and other dysfunctional outcomes during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Among psychiatrically referred youths, the diagnosis of AD has clinical information value and identifies a syndromatic presentation that can be the focus of concern or treatment. It has a reasonably good short-term prognosis, in spite of the fact that patients with this diagnosis typically present with comorbid specific psychiatric disorders. Controlling for the effects of comorbidity, AD does not predict later dysfunction. To achieve a convergence of findings from research and clinical practice, it would be important to ensure a uniform application of specific, operational diagnostic criteria for AD.

Childhood-onset dysthymic disorder. Clinical features and prospective naturalistic outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the clinical presentation, course, and outcome of childhood-onset dysthymic disorder and assess the predictive validity of this diagnosis. DESIGN: As part of a longitudinal prospective study, school-age, clinically referred youngsters (n = 55) whose first depression was dysthymic disorder and a comparison group of youngsters (n = 60) whose first affective episode was major depressive disorder (MDD) were repeatedly examined during a 3- to 12-year interval. The diagnoses were based on DSM-III criteria. RESULTS: Dysthymic disorder was associated with earlier age at onset than MDD, similarly frequent symptoms of affective dysregulation, but low rates of anhedonia and neurovegetative symptoms and greater overall risk of any subsequent affective disorder. The affective disorders that dysthymic children developed, including first-episode MDD (76%) and bipolar disorder (13%), far outnumbered nonaffective conditions. After the first episode of MDD, the clinical course of the initially dysthymic youths was similar to the course of the comparison patients with regard to rates of recurrent major depression, bipolar disorder, and certain nonaffective disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood-onset dysthymic disorder is an early marker of recurrent affective illness. Although on long-term follow-up, dysthymic disorder and MDD are associated with similar rates of certain outcomes, there exist sufficient differences to warrant diagnosis of each disorder. Dysthymic children who have subsequent mood disorders are most likely first to have an episode of MDD, and that episode appears to be the "gateway" to recurrent affective illness. The interval between the onset of dysthymia and the first major depression provides a window of opportunity for intervention and possible prevention of later episodes.

Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among youth with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviors among youth with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) for up to 12 years after disease onset. METHOD: The occurrence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts was assessed shortly after disease onset and repeatedly thereafter as part of a longitudinal study of diabetic children. Initial psychiatric status and symptomatology, characteristics of the medical illness, and sociodemographic variables were considered as potential correlates of suicidal behaviors. RESULTS: Young patients evidenced higher than expected rates of suicidal ideation, but relatively few attempted suicide over the follow-up. Among those who did attempt suicide, diabetes-related methods commonly were used. Suicidal ideation shortly after IDDM onset was related only to concurrent severity of depressive symptoms. Suicidal ideation over the follow-up was associated with later noncompliance with the medical regimen. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of suicidal ideation among youth with IDDM because of the prevalence of those cognitions, the potential lethality of attempts due to insulin misuse, and the relationship of suicidal thoughts to later noncompliance with the medical regimen.