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Childhood somatic complaints predict generalized anxiety and depressive disorders during young adulthood in a community sample.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Shanahan, L; Zucker, N; Copeland, WE; Bondy, CL; Egger, HL; Costello, EJ
Published in: Psychol Med
June 2015

BACKGROUND: Children with somatic complaints are at increased risk for emotional disorders during childhood. Whether this elevated risk extends into young adulthood - and to which specific disorders - has rarely been tested with long-term prospective-longitudinal community samples. Here we test whether frequent and recurring stomach aches, headaches, and muscle aches during childhood predict emotional disorders in adulthood after accounting for childhood psychiatric and physical health status and psychosocial adversity. METHOD: The Great Smoky Mountains Study is a community representative sample with 1420 participants. Children/adolescents were assessed 4-7 times between ages 9-16 years. They were assessed again up to three times between ages 19-26 years. Childhood somatic complaints were coded when subjects or their parents reported frequent and recurrent headaches, stomach aches, or muscular/joint aches at some point when children were aged 9-16 years. Psychiatric disorders were assessed with the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment and the Young Adult Psychiatric Assessment. RESULTS: Frequent and recurrent somatic complaints in childhood predicted adulthood emotional disorders. After controlling for potential confounders, predictions from childhood somatic complaints were specific to later depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Long-term predictions did not differ by sex. Somatic complaints that persisted across developmental periods were associated with the highest risk for young adult emotional distress disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Children from the community with frequent and recurrent physical distress are at substantially increased risk for emotional distress disorders during young adulthood. Preventions and interventions for somatic complaints could help alleviate this risk.

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Published In

Psychol Med

DOI

EISSN

1469-8978

Publication Date

June 2015

Volume

45

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1721 / 1730

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Somatoform Disorders
  • Psychiatry
  • North Carolina
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Depressive Disorder
  • Comorbidity
  • Child
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
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Shanahan, L., Zucker, N., Copeland, W. E., Bondy, C. L., Egger, H. L., & Costello, E. J. (2015). Childhood somatic complaints predict generalized anxiety and depressive disorders during young adulthood in a community sample. Psychol Med, 45(8), 1721–1730. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291714002840
Shanahan, L., N. Zucker, W. E. Copeland, C. L. Bondy, H. L. Egger, and E. J. Costello. “Childhood somatic complaints predict generalized anxiety and depressive disorders during young adulthood in a community sample.Psychol Med 45, no. 8 (June 2015): 1721–30. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291714002840.
Shanahan L, Zucker N, Copeland WE, Bondy CL, Egger HL, Costello EJ. Childhood somatic complaints predict generalized anxiety and depressive disorders during young adulthood in a community sample. Psychol Med. 2015 Jun;45(8):1721–30.
Shanahan, L., et al. “Childhood somatic complaints predict generalized anxiety and depressive disorders during young adulthood in a community sample.Psychol Med, vol. 45, no. 8, June 2015, pp. 1721–30. Pubmed, doi:10.1017/S0033291714002840.
Shanahan L, Zucker N, Copeland WE, Bondy CL, Egger HL, Costello EJ. Childhood somatic complaints predict generalized anxiety and depressive disorders during young adulthood in a community sample. Psychol Med. 2015 Jun;45(8):1721–1730.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychol Med

DOI

EISSN

1469-8978

Publication Date

June 2015

Volume

45

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1721 / 1730

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Somatoform Disorders
  • Psychiatry
  • North Carolina
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Depressive Disorder
  • Comorbidity
  • Child