EPA-1318 - Depressive Symptoms in Healthy Adolescent- ten Years Trend

Abstract

Introduction

Depressive disorder occurs in 5-9% of adolescents and it is often associated with chronicity and positive family history. It often persists into adulthood. Depressive symptoms are reported in more than 25% of healthy high school adolescents. Depressive feelings in adolescents require our attention in order to make early recognition possible.

Aim

Evaluating frequency and stability of self-reported depressive symptoms in healthy adolescents in 2000 and 2010.

Methods

The research was conducted on 408 fourth grade high school students who were 18, during the years of 2000 and 2010. The depressiveness was assessed using the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-IA).

Results

Depressive symptoms were found in 59.5% of adolescents (BDI score > 9) during year 2000. In 2010, 18.6% of the examinees had depressive symptoms. The average BDI score in 2000 was 10.23 which is statistically highly relevant (p<0.05) compared to 2010 when the average BDI score was 5.2. Average BDI score was statistically significantly bigger (p<0.05) in female adolescents both in 2000 (women 11.5, men 8.29) and 2010 (women 5.86, men 3.96)

Conclusions

Female adolescents show significantly higher scores on the Beck's scale which could be used in specific prevention. The difference in expressed depression in two adolescent samples requires further research which would include more predisposing and protective factors.