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: 1,490 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 1,490 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 (kappa=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.