Tracking mental health from teens to adulthood

Over 2,700 twins and siblings have participated in the BLTS, providing decades of data from adolescence into adulthood. Researchers are using this information to understand how early signs of psychological distress—such as anxiety and sadness—predict major depressive disorder (MDD), which affects up to 20 per cent of people.

Using the SPHERE questionnaire, which asks simple questions about feeling unhappy, tense, or low on energy, the team tracks how distress changes over time. By analyzing these responses over time—from the turbulent teen years through early adulthood—the goal of the team is to see if these patterns can identify who is most at risk for MDD.

The research uses advanced models to break distress down into baseline levels, rates of change, and accelerations. Early results suggest that vulnerability may appear as early as age 12—and that new genetic factors might emerge during adolescence, increasing risk for severe or recurring depression.

By studying twins, researchers can separate genetic and environmental influences and explore whether early distress causes MDD or if both share common roots. Initial results point to those early baseline levels as key, with dynamic changes possibly driving escalation.

This work could transform early intervention—helping identify at-risk individuals before MDD takes hold. Watch this space as the team uncovers more—your genes and early experiences might hold the key to preventing a global health burden!