Irritability and tantrums in early childhood are linked to depression and self-harm in the future

A new study conducted by researchers from University College London showed that children who become less irritable between three and seven years old are more likely to suffer from depression and self-harm in their teens.

The new results, published in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryIt suggests that interventions that help parents and caregivers support children with high irritability can help reduce the risk of mental illness in the future.

Irritability and tantrums are normal during early childhood, and parents sometimes refer to this age group as “the terrible twos” and “tweens.” For most children, irritability improves as they get older. However, some children continue to experience irritability and behavioral outbursts as they grow older.

Although previous research has shown that irritability in late childhood increases the risk of developing depression in the future, it was not known whether irritability during early childhood has a similar importance. Identifying the sign of increased risk early would provide a greater opportunity to devise interventions that can prevent mental health problems later on.

This study is based on data from more than 7,000 children who participated in the Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative cohort study led by University College London of people born between 2000 and 2002. Parents answered questions about their children's irritability at ages three, five, and seven. Of age, adolescents reported symptoms of depression and self-harm at age 14 years.

This study found that children with irritability that did not decrease between the ages of three and seven years experienced higher levels of depression and self-harm in adolescence, while irritability at only three years was not associated with later depression.

Lead author Dr Ramya Srinivasan (UCLA Psychiatry) said: “This study suggests that although some degree of irritability is part of normal child development, we can identify children with persistent irritability from an early age.” Up to five years, providing an opportunity for prevention and early intervention.

“The findings underscore the importance of early childhood for emotional development. Support for parents of young children has declined in many countries in recent years and has been significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is worrying and perhaps a missed opportunity.”