Parent- and child-reported anxiety disorders differentiating major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder in children and adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To date, specific parent- and child-defined anxiety disorders associated with dysthymic disorder (DD; DSM-5 persistent depressive disorder equivalent) with and without major depressive disorder (MDD) have not been investigated in children and adolescents. Method: In a cross-sectional study, we compared point prevalence rates of parent- and child-reported anxiety disorders in DD alone ( N = 154), MDD alone ( N = 29), comorbid DD and MDD ( N = 130) and anxiety disorders alone ( N = 126) groups. Results: DD alone and MDD alone did not differ with respect to comorbid anxiety disorders from parent and child reports, while parent-reported panic disorder (PD) was significantly increased in the DD and MDD group compared to the other three groups as was child-reported post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the MDD alone and anxiety disorders alone groups. In contrast, specific phobia (SpPh) was significantly increased in the anxiety disorders alone group compared to the DD and MDD group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that specific fear-related anxiety disorders, especially parent-reported PD and child-reported PTSD, may aid the early recognition of DD and MDD.