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

ABSTRACT:

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 com

SUBMITTER: Shanahan L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4691537 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature