Uppsala Longitudinal Adolescent Depression Study (ULADS)

Abstract

PurposeTo present the Uppsala Longitudinal Adolescent Depression Study, initiated in Uppsala, Sweden, in the early 1990s. The initial aim of this epidemiological investigation was to study the prevalence, characteristics and correlates of adolescent depression, and has subsequently expanded to include a broad range of social, economic and health-related long-term outcomes and cost-of-illness analyses.ParticipantsThe source population was first-year students (aged 16–17) in upper-secondary schools in Uppsala during 1991–1992, of which 2300 (93%) were screened for depression. Adolescents with positive screening and sex/age-matched peers were invited to a comprehensive assessment. A total of 631 adolescents (78% females) completed this assessment, and 409 subsequently completed a 15-year follow-up assessment. At both occasions, extensive information was collected on mental disorders, personality and psychosocial situation. Detailed social, economic and health-related data from 1993 onwards have recently been obtained from the Swedish national registries for 576 of the original participants and an age-matched reference population (N≥200 000).Findings to dateThe adolescent lifetime prevalence of a major depressive episode was estimated to be 11.4%. Recurrence in young adulthood was reported by the majority, with a particularly poor prognosis for those with a persistent depressive disorder or multiple somatic symptoms. Adolescent depression was also associated with an increased risk of other adversities in adulthood, including additional mental health conditions, low educational attainment and problems related to intimate relationships.Future plansLongitudinal studies of adolescent depression are rare and must be responsibly managed and utilised. We therefore intend to follow the cohort continuously by means of registries. Currently, the participants are approaching mid-adulthood. At this stage, we are focusing on the overall long-term burden of adolescent depression. For this purpose, the research group has incorporated expertise in health economics. We would also welcome extended collaboration with researchers managing similar datasets.

Positive Youth Development and Adolescent Depression: A Longitudinal Study Based on Mainland Chinese High School Students

“…Balazs et al [9] reported prevalence rates of 29.2% and 10.5% for subthreshold depression and depression, respectively, in adolescents in 11 European countries. Similar findings also have been observed in Sweden [10] and Australia [11]. In Asian countries, a meta-analysis based on 42,347 Chinese children showed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms amongst primary school students was 17.2% [12].…”

Internet-based psychodynamic versus cognitive behaviour therapy for adolescents with depression: study protocol for a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial (the ERiCA study)

“…In childhood, anxiety and depression seem to be the most common diagnoses [2]. According to recent longitudinal data, the lifetime prevalence of adolescent depression is 11.4%, accompanied by significantly higher risks of adversity through adolescence and adulthood, such as recurrent depression, other mental health issues, lower educational attainment, and relational problems [3]. Depression in adolescence is associated with a five-fold risk of suicide attempts, a two-fold risk of later depression, increased use of psychiatric and medical care, as well as decreased functioning in school, work, family, and social life [4].…”

Adolescent depression and subsequent earnings across early to middle adulthood: a 25-year longitudinal cohort study

“…Here, we combined data from a relatively large Swedish cohort study, the Uppsala Longitudinal Adolescent Depression Study (ULADS) (Alaie et al ., 2019), with register-based data on year-by-year earnings from late adolescence up to approximately 40 years of age. ULADS is based on in-person assessments using diagnostic criteria to ascertain specific subtypes of depressive disorders, including PDD, major depressive disorder (MDD) and subthreshold depression.…”