Child abuse or neglect may be linked to major depression in adults

People who were abused and neglected during childhood have a higher risk of major depression when they become young adults, according to a new report. In the study, doctors examined whether abused and neglected children were at elevated risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) and psychiatric illness, compared with matched control subjects, when followed up into young adulthood. {openx:269} The study included 676 children with substantiated cases of physical and sexual abuse and neglect before the age of 11. They were matched based on age, race, sex, and approximate family social class with 520 non-abused and non-neglected children. All were…