Can Depression Increase The Risk for Violence?

Depression in adolescents and young people increases the risk of violence later in life. Therefore, there is a need for early detection and intervention of depression.

Depression and violence are highly prevalent among adolescents and young adults and it was found that adolescent depression increases the risk of violence, reveals a recent study. //

The study examined the longitudinal association between depression and subsequent violence from three representative samples in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Finland.

‘Lower the risk of violence in adolescents and young adults by detecting and treating depression early. ’

The study was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP).

Researchers for these three cohorts used complementary measures of depression, including self-report and clinical diagnoses, and different measurements of violence including informant reports of violence and official convictions for violent crimes. The research team, led by Professor Seena Fazel, from the Forensic Psychiatry Group at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, found modest increases in risk of violence in depression.

In absolute terms, for instance, in the Finnish sample, 7.1% of individuals with depression were convicted of one or more violent crimes, compared with 3.6% in the general population without depression.

Adolescent Depression - Causes - Affects - Depressed Teens - Treatment - FAQs
Adolescent depression is an ailment that occurs during the teenage characterized by persistent melancholy, disappointment and loss of self-esteem.

In relative terms, across samples and measurements, the study shows a consistent pattern of increased relative risk of later violence.

In the Dutch and UK samples, an increase in depressive symptoms was associated with a significant elevated risk of later violence.

Adolescent Depression Urgently Demands More Potent Treatments
In the U.S. 200 million teenagers suffer from depression. Current drug warnings and study results have raised controversy concerning the treatment of adolescent depression.

In the Finnish sample, the odds of violence in individuals with a diagnosis of depression were increased two-fold, compared to those without depression.

These findings highlight the need for active and early treatment of depression in adolescents and young people.

Childhood ADHD may Result in Adolescent Depression
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)in childhood may heighten the risk of developing adolescent depression and suicidal behaviour years later, states a report.

The mechanisms behind this link need further investigation, and may involve increased impulsivity, hostility and poor self-regulation.

"We know that high rates of depression have been reported among adolescents in juvenile detention and correctional facilities (e.g.,11% in boys and 29% in girls)," said Dr. Rongqin Yu, lead researcher at the Forensic Psychiatry Group at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

"However, the longitudinal link between depression and violence was unclear. Our longitudinal design allowed us to take into account previous violence, enabling us to test whether adolescent depression is associated with changes in violence over time. We found a consistent pattern of increased risk of later violence across samples. Both depression and violence are prevalent in adolescents and young adults; our findings indicate the importance of early detection and treatment of depression."

Professor Fazel said: "This research is important for two main reasons. First, it adds to the evidence of the many potential harms of untreated depression in young people. Second, it suggests that closer liaison between criminal justice and mental health might prevent violence in high-risk individuals."

Source-Eurekalert