Depression Common in
Teens, but Few Seek Help
Excerpt By Paula Moyer, Reuter's Health

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters Health) - Although over one third of adolescents and young adults report having had at least one episode of depression, less than 20% seek help for it, Dr. Stephanie A. Riole reported here at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's annual meeting.

These findings point to the need to understand why young people are reluctant to get treatment for depressive symptoms, said Riole, a lecturer in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

"Depression is very common in adolescents and young adults," she told Reuters Health. "Our findings confirm what we know clinically, that there is a high incidence of depression in this population, that it is more common in girls than boys, and that they are unlikely to seek help for their symptoms."

She and colleagues sought to examine the prevalence of depression and help-seeking behavior in adolescents and young adults by analyzing data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, sponsored by the National Center for Health Statistics of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The data had been collected in nationally representative surveys conducted from 1988 to 1994. There were 1,958 participants aged 15 to 19 years and 1,801 participants aged 20 to 24 years, for a total of 3,759 participants.

The participants were asked if they had ever had a time lasting 2 weeks or longer in which they felt sad, blue, depressed, or had lost interest and pleasure in the things they usually cared about. They were also asked if they had experienced such a period lasting 2 or more years, and if they had had spells in which they had those feelings as well as other hallmark symptoms of depression, including change of appetite, change of weight, change of sleep and thoughts of suicide.

Among the 15 to 19 year olds, 35.5% reported at least 2 weeks of depressed mood, and 5.9% reported at least 2 years of depressed mood. Among this age group, nearly 7.5% met the criteria for severe major depressive disorder.

Among the young adults aged 20 to 24 years, 40.5% reported a 2-week period of depressed mood, and 7.95% reported a 2-year period of depressed mood; 9.7% met the criteria for severe major depressive disorder, the study found.

Only 15% of all participants with at least 2 years of depressed mood told their doctor, while 11.6% of those with "depressed spells"--defined as at least 2 weeks of depressed mood and two to three other symptoms of depression--sought help. Among those who did not tell someone, 2.2% took medication more than once to address the depressed spells.

Girls were more likely than boys to seek help, but boys were more likely than girls to take an over-the-counter medication. Non-Hispanic white respondents were most likely to tell their doctor, and respondents from other ethnic backgrounds were more likely to take an over-the-counter medication.

The type of over-the-counter medication used was not detailed in the report.

"These findings suggest the need for improved recognition, referral, and access to treatment for adolescents who may be living with depression," said Riole.

Reference Source 89

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