Citation

Zavaglia E, Bergeron L. Can. Psychol. 2017; 58(2): 124-139.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Canadian Psychological Association, Publisher University of Manitoba)

DOI

10.1037/cap0000085

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Unipolar depression is often comorbid with other psychiatric disorders in youth, particularly with anxiety and disruptive disorders. Previous literature reviews suggested that patterns of comorbidity differed by age and sex. However, most authors from previous published reviews did not specifically target age and sex as a priori criteria in selecting studies on comorbidity during adolescence. Moreover, these reviews did not consider potentially important methodological issues that might explain inconsistencies in comorbidity rates across studies. In our literature review, we selected empirical studies published within the last 15 years with the aim of targeting age and sex as principal variables associated with heterotypic comorbidity of either anxiety or disruptive disorders and depression. Additionally, relevant methodological aspects that were not considered systematically in previous reviews were taken into account in the presentation of results (e.g., type of instrument, informant assessing youth's mental disorders). In the present review, a total of 29 cross-sectional and longitudinal studies met the following selection criteria in their research design: (a) structured or semistructured instruments assessing anxiety, disruptive, and depressive disorders; and (b) samples of adolescents aged at least 12 years. Our review highlights inconsistent results across clinical and community studies regarding age- and sex-related patterns of comorbidity. However, some studies indicated the presence of high comorbidity rates between either anxiety or disruptive disorders and depression in adolescent girls. This review suggests that the complexity of the comorbidity phenomenon precludes definitive conclusions about its variations according to age and sex. Implications for prevention, treatment, and future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

Language: en