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High Bdi-21 Scores in Adolescents Without Depression are Associated with Negative Self-image, Immature and Neurotic Defense Styles and Adverse Life Events

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

E.M. Savilahti ,
H. Haravuori ,
M. Rytilä-Manninen ,
N. Lindberg  and
M. Marttunen
E.M. Savilahti
Affiliation:
Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Adolescent Psychiatry, Helsinki, Finland
H. Haravuori
Affiliation:
Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Adolescent Psychiatry, Helsinki, Finland National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health, Mental Health Unit, Helsinki, Finland
M. Rytilä-Manninen
Affiliation:
Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Adolescent Psychiatry, Helsinki, Finland
N. Lindberg
Affiliation:
Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Forensic Psychiatry, Helsinki, Finland
M. Marttunen
Affiliation:
Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Adolescent Psychiatry, Helsinki, Finland National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health, Mental Health Unit, Helsinki, Finland

Abstract

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Introduction

Structured self-reports, such as Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) are widely used in assessing adolescents’ psychological wellbeing.

Objectives

To investigate what factors are associated with discrepancies between BDI scores and diagnostic assessment in adolescent psychiatric patients and general population.

Aims

To recognize what factors may contribute to high BDI scores besides depressive symptoms.

Methods

The study population consisted of 206 adolescents (13–17 years old) who were hospitalised for the first time in adolescent psychiatry and 203 age and gender matched adolescents recruited from schools in the same region. Study subjects filled self-reports on depression symptoms (BDI-21), substance misuse (AUDIT), psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90), defense styles (DSQ-40) and self-image (OSIQ). Diagnostics was based on K-SADS-PL interview, and/or clinical interview and clinical records when available. Information on background and life events was gathered from study subjects.

Results

We compared subjects who scored in BDI-21 either 0–15 points or 16–63 points firstly among subjects who did not fill diagnostic criteria for current unipolar depression and secondly among those who did fulfill the diagnostic criteria. High BDI-21 scores in subjects without depression diagnosis were associated with female sex, older age, several adverse life events, higher psychiatric co-morbidity, worse self-image and more immature, neurotic and image-distorting defense styles (and less mature defense style). Low BDI-21 scores among subjects with depression diagnosis were associated with male sex, more positive self-image and less immature defense style.

Conclusions

High BDI-21 scores may reflect a broad range of challenges in an adolescent's psychological development even in the absence of depression.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-poster walk: Child and adolescent psychiatry–Part 4
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 41 , Issue S1: Abstract of the 25th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2017 , pp. S223
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
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