Depression among Australian adolescents

Abstract

Objectives To examine the prevalence and factors associated with depression in Australian adolescents. Design A representative, multistage probability sample of Australian households conducted in 1998 (part of the National Survey of Mental Health and Well‐being). Adolescents completed self‐report questionnaires and parents were interviewed using a lay‐administered, structured psychiatric interview and several questionnaires. Participants 1490 adolescents aged 13–17 years and their parent or main caregiver. Main outcome measures Prevalence of depression in adolescents, as reported by parents and by adolescents themselves; demographic factors; health‐risk behaviours; and rate of use of support services. Results Of the 1490 adolescents originally sampled, 150 (10%) did not complete responses to questions on depression and were excluded from the analysis. Seventy of the remaining 1340 adolescents (5.2%; 95% CI, 4.0%–6.4%) met criteria for self‐reported depression. Agreement between parent‐ and adolescent‐reported depression was poor (κ=0.27). Adolescent‐reported depression was associated with increased suicide plans (odds ratio [OR], 2.83; 95% CI, 1.19–6.70) and attempts (OR, 9.05; 95% CI, 3.49–23.50) in the previous year, use of marijuana 10 or more times in the previous month (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.25–6.64), having conduct disorder (OR, 4.09; 95% CI, 1.23–13.63) and use of school support services (OR, 4.71; 95% CI, 1.82–12.22). Those who used any kind of support service (24/70; 34%) used a mean of 2.9 services (mode, 2; range, 1–5). Three per cent (2/70) of depressed adolescents had been treated with antidepressants. Conclusions Depressed adolescents exhibit higher rates of health‐risk behaviours and psychosocial impairment than non‐depressed adolescents, but only a small number receive appropriate treatment. Staff working in school‐based services should be trained to identify adolescents with depression and facilitate referral for treatment.