Can adoption at an early age protect children at risk from depression in adulthood? A Swedish national cohort study.

ABSTRACT: Objective:Our aim was to investigate whether the risk of depression in adulthood in children raised by substitute parents from an early age differ by care arrangements. Methods:Register study in Swedish national cohorts born 1972-1981, with three study groups of children raised in adoptive or foster homes with care starting before the age of 2 years and a comparison majority population group. Cox regression estimated HRs of prescribed antidepressive medication and specialised psychiatric care with a diagnosis of depression in adulthood during 2006-2012. Results:Compared with the general population, long-term foster care carried the highest age-adjusted and sex-adjusted HR for both antidepressive medication, 2.07 (95% CI 1.87 to 2.28), and psychiatric care for depression, 2.85 (95% CI 2.42 to 3.35), in adulthood. Adults raised by adoptive parents were far more similar to the general population with HR of 1.19 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.43) for domestic and 1.13 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.18) for international adoption for antidepressive medication. Adjusting the analysis for school marks and income attenuated these risks more in the long-term foster care group. Conclusion:The study demonstrates the benefits of early adoption when substitute parents are provided for young children, and underlines the importance of improved educational support for children in foster care.

SUBMITTER: Hjern A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6307555 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature