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Farooq B, Russell AE, Howe LD, Herbert A, Smith ADAC, Fisher HL, Baldwin JR, Arseneault L, Danese A, Mars B. The relationship between type, timing and duration of exposure to adverse childhood experiences and adolescent self-harm and depression: findings from three UK prospective population-based cohorts. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024. [PMID: 38613494 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well-established risk factors for self-harm and depression. However, despite their high comorbidity, there has been little focus on the impact of developmental timing and the duration of exposure to ACEs on co-occurring self-harm and depression. METHODS Data were utilised from over 22,000 children and adolescents participating in three UK cohorts, followed up longitudinally for 14-18 years: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) and the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study. Multinomial logistic regression models estimated associations between each ACE type and a four-category outcome: no self-harm or depression, self-harm alone, depression alone and self-harm with co-occurring depression. A structured life course modelling approach was used to examine whether the accumulation (duration) of exposure to each ACE, or a critical period (timing of ACEs) had the strongest effects on self-harm and depression in adolescence. RESULTS The majority of ACEs were associated with co-occurring self-harm and depression, with consistent findings across cohorts. The importance of timing and duration of ACEs differed across ACEs and across cohorts. For parental mental health problems, longer duration of exposure was strongly associated with co-occurring self-harm and depression in both ALSPAC (adjusted OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.10-1.25) and MCS (1.18, 1.11-1.26) cohorts. For other ACEs in ALSPAC, exposure in middle childhood was most strongly associated with co-occurring self-harm and depression, and ACE occurrence in early childhood and adolescence was more important in the MCS. CONCLUSIONS Efforts to mitigate the impact of ACEs should start in early life with continued support throughout childhood, to prevent long-term exposure to ACEs contributing to risk of self-harm and depression in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Farooq
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Abigail E Russell
- Children and Young People's Mental Health Research Collaboration, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Laura D Howe
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Annie Herbert
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Andrew D A C Smith
- Mathematics and Statistics Research Group, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Helen L Fisher
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jessie R Baldwin
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Louise Arseneault
- Mathematics and Statistics Research Group, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Andrea Danese
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- National and Specialist CAMHS Clinic for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Becky Mars
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol, UK
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Lacey RE, Gondek D, Smith BJ, Smith ADAC, Dunn EC, Sacker A. Testing lifecourse theories characterising associations between maternal depression and offspring depression in emerging adulthood: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023; 64:1149-1158. [PMID: 36094018 PMCID: PMC10008452 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal depression is a major determinant of offspring mental health. Yet, little is understood about how the duration and timing of maternal depression shapes youth risk for depressive symptoms, which if understood could inform when best to intervene. This study aimed to determine how the timing and duration of maternal depression was related to offspring depression in emerging adulthood, and if these associations varied by sex. METHODS We analysed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (a prenatal cohort in the Avon area of England, 1991-2003), n = 3,301. We applied the structured lifecourse modelling approach to maternal depression (assessed at 13 points from prenatal period to adolescence) and emerging adult depressive symptoms (age 21). Lifecourse models assessed were accumulation (sum of timepoints when maternal depression was reported), sensitive periods (each period assessed as one during which maternal depression has a stronger effect) and instability (frequent fluctuations in maternal depression). RESULTS Female adolescents (n = 2,132) had higher SMFQ scores (mean = 6.15, SD = 5.90) than males (n = 1,169, mean = 4.87, SD = 4.82). Maternal depression was most common in the infancy period (21.2% males; 21.4% females). For males, accumulation was the most appropriate lifecourse model; for each additional period of maternal depression, depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood increased by 0.11 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.15, one-sided p value ≤ .001). For females, exposure to maternal depression was associated with increasing depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood, with the largest effect in mid-childhood (increase of 0.27 units, 95% CI 0.03-0.50, p = .015 for difference between mid-childhood and other time-periods) and a smaller, equal effect at all other time-periods (increase of 0.07 units per time-period, 95% CI: 0.03-0.12, p = .002). CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of ongoing maternal depression for the development of depression in offspring through to emerging adulthood. Because long-term exposure to maternal depression was particularly important, early interventions are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E. Lacey
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Dawid Gondek
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Brooke J. Smith
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics UnitCenter for Genomic MedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | | | - Erin C. Dunn
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics UnitCenter for Genomic MedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Department of PsychiatryHarvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric ResearchThe Broad Institute of Harvard and MITCambridgeMAUSA
- Center on the Developing Child at Harvard UniversityCambridgeMAUSA
| | - Amanda Sacker
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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