Stressful life events predict a mild course of depression, not a chronic one

What is it about?

This study followed 135 adolescent girls for six years to understand why some people who develop depression have a mild course, while others go on to experience years of chronic or recurring depression. The study tracked stressful life events in the months leading up to each girl's first depressive episode. We found that stressful events strongly predicted the onset of depression for girls who went on to have a relatively brief, time-limited course, but stressful events did not predict onset for those who went on to develop a chronic or highly recurring pattern. This suggests that the two groups may become depressed through different pathways.

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Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

Why is it important?

A small subgroup of people with chronic, recurring depression accounts for a disproportionate share of its overall burden, so being able to identify this high-risk group at the very first episode could help clinicians tailor treatment early. These findings also challenge a longstanding theory of the relationship between stress and depression ("stress sensitization"), pointing researchers toward a different and potentially more accurate model of the disorder.