Data
are presented for the sample stratified
by medication status. The mean age at
first onset of depression was 18.8 years
(SD=6.8), with approximately half the
sample reporting first onset of mood
disorder prior to 18 years of age. Mean
duration of depression was 15.4 years
(SD=7.1). Approximately 20% of participants
reported duration of illness exceeding
20 years, with 48% reporting
illness duration as 14 years or less. Although
inclusion into the study required
only a past history of major depression,
the women in the sample were
noted to have highly recurrent depression,
with 44% reporting 5 or more
prior recurrent episodes (mean [SD],
7.0 [10.8]). Current or past history of
comorbid psychiatric illness was noted
in 93 women (53% of the sample).
Anxiety and eating disorders were the
most common comorbid diagnoses (62
[35%] and 29 [17%], respectively)