Longitudinal Trends in Childhood Insulin Levels and Body Mass Index and Associations With Risks of Psychosis and Depression in Young Adults

Key Points Question Are longitudinal trends in insulin levels and body mass index from childhood associated with adult depression and psychosis? Findings This cohort study of repeated-measure data from age 1 to 24 years in up to 10 463 individuals identified trajectories of fasting insulin levels and body mass index. Persistently high fasting insulin levels from age 9 years were associated with psychosis at 24 years, and puberty-onset body mass index increase was associated with depression at 24 years. Meaning This study’s findings suggest that changes in insulin sensitivity and adiposity starting from childhood may have disorder-specific associations with psychosis and depression and represent targets for prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic disorders in people with psychosis and depression.