Depression and anxiety disorders of adolescents are not the same thing

Adolescent depression and anxiety disorders are two distinct psychiatric disorders, according to Dr. William W. Hale III (a researcher of the Langeveld Institute for the Study of Education and Development in Childhood and Adolescence at Utrecht University) in a recent publication in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

Hale and his colleagues conducted a five-year, longitudinal study of secondary school adolescents. Every year the depressive and anxiety disorder symptoms of the adolescents were measured. Hale and his colleagues concluded that while adolescent anxiety and depression were strongly related to one another, that adolescent depression and anxiety disorder symptoms are in fact best classified as two distinct disorders.

DSM-V

These conclusions are of importance for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) that is planned for publication in 2012. Adolescent depression and anxiety disorders are presently classified in the revised fourth edition of the DSM (DSM-IV-TR), however it has been suggested that these two disorders be given a join classification in the DSM-V. Hale argues that the present-day classification of adolescent depression and anxiety disorders be preserved in the DSM-V.

This publication will appear in the October issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and can be found online at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122473904/PDFSTART

About the Journal: The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JCPP), published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, is internationally recognised to be the leading journal covering both child and adolescent psychology and psychiatry. Articles published include experimental and developmental studies, especially those relating to developmental psychopathology and the developmental disorders. An important function of the Journal is to bring together empirical research, clinical studies and reviews of high quality arising from different points of view. JCPP can be accessed online at: www.blackwellpublishing.com/jcpp

Langeveld Institute for the Study of Education and Development in Childhood and Adolescence at Utrecht University

Contact: Bill Hale
[email protected]
Wiley-Blackwell