Abstract
To determine the role of life events in the occurrence of depression in children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), we compared 11 patients (DSM-III-R; 9 male; 2 female; Mage: 11.0 years; Mfull-scale IQ: 75.3) with PDD and depression, with an age- and sex- matched control group of patients with PDD without depression (DSM-III-R; 9 male; 2 female; Mage: 9.8 years; Mfull-scale IQ: 60.6). Information was collected about the occurrence of unpleasant life events in the 12 months prior to the onset of depression. Depressed children experienced significantly more life events in the 12 months prior to the onset of depression. Exit events such as bereavement were more common in the depressed group. Findings suggest that, as in the general population, significant life events, particularly those with a negative impact, may contribute to the occurrence of depression in children with PDD. Future studies should explore the role of both biologic factors and environmental Stressors in the onset of depression in this population.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (1987).Diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
Brown, G. W., Harris, T. O. (1989).Life events and illness. New York: Guilford.
Clarke, D. J., Littlejohns, C. S., Corbett, J. A., & Joseph, S. (1989). Pervasive developmental disorders and psychoses in adult life.British Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 692–699.
Esquiaga, E., Gutierrez, J. I. A., & Lopez, A. J. (1987). Psychosocial factors and the episode number of depression.Journal of Affective Disorders, 12, 135–138.
Emerson, P. (1977). Covert grief reactions in mentally retarded clients.Mental Retardation, 15, 46–47.
Frank, E., Anderson, B., Reynolds, III C. F., Ritenour, A., & Kupfer, D. J. (1994). Life events and the Research Diagnostic Criteria Endogenous Subtype.Archives of General Psychiatry, 51, 519–524.
Ghaziuddin, M. (1988). Behavioral disorder in the mentally handicapped. The role of life events.British Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 683–686.
Ghaziuddin, M., Ghaziuddin, N., & Stein, G. (1990). Life events and the recurrence of depression.Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 35, 239–242.
Ghaziuddin, M., & Tsai, L. (1991). Depression in autistic disorder.British Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 721–723.
Ghaziuddin, M., Tsai, L., Ghaziuddin, N. (1992). Comorbidity of autistic disorder in children and adolescents.European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1(4): 209–213.
Gillberg, C. (1985). Asperger's syndrome and recurrent psychosis—A case study.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 15, 389–397.
Goodyer, I., Kolvin, I., & Gatzanis, S. (1985). Recent undesirable life events and psychiatric disorder in childhood and adolescence.British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 517–523.
Komoto, J., Usui, S., & Hirata, J. (1984). Infantile autism and affective disorder.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 14, 81–84.
Krug, D. A., Arick, J., & Almond, P. (1980). Behavior checklist for identifying severely handicapped individuals with high levels of autistic behavior.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 21, 221–229.
Menolascino, F. J. (1983). In F. J. Menolascino & B. M. McCann (Eds.), Mental health and mental retardation: Bridging the gap (pp. 3–64). Baltimore, MD: University Park Press.
McGuffin, P., Katz, R., & Bebbington, P. (1988). The Camberwell Collaborative Depression Study III: Depression and adversity in the relatives of depressed probands.British Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 775–782.
McKenna, K., Gordon, C., Lenane, M., Kaysen, D., Fahey, K., & Rapoport, J. (1994). Looking for childhood-onset schizophrenia: the first 71 cases screened.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33, 636–644.
Murphy, E. (1982). The social origins of depression in old age.British Journal of Psychiatry, 141, 135–142.
Post, R. M., Rubinow, D. R., & Ballenger, J. C. (1986). Conditioning and sensitization in the longitudinal course of affective illness.British Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 191–201.
Realmoto, G. M., & August, G. J. (1991). Catatonia in autistic disorder: A sign of comorbidity or variable expression.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 21, 517–528.
Reiss, S. (1990). Reiss Scales for Children's Dual Diagnosis (Mental retardation and psychopathology). Worthington, OH: International Diagnostic Systems.
Sovner, R. (1986). Limiting factors in the use of DSM-III criteria with mentally ill/mentally retarded persons.Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 22, 1055–1059.
Stack, L. S., Haldipur, C. V., & Thompson, M. (1987). Stressful life events and psychiatric hospitalization of mentally retarded patients.American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 661–663.
Young, J. G., O'Brian, J. D., Gutterman, E. M., & Cohen, P. (1987). Research on the clinical interview.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 613–620.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan. The authors thank Deanna Miner, Barbara Shaw, Laurie McGovern and the staff of the Child Psychiatry Inpatient Unit for their support.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ghaziuddin, M., Alessi, N. & Greden, J.F. Life events and depression in children with pervasive developmental disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 25, 495–502 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02178296
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02178296