Citation

Bailly D, Alexandre JY, Collinet C, Beuscart R, Parquet Ph. J. Psychiatrie Psychobiol. 1990; 5(6): 363-373.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Psychiatrie & psychobiologie)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence and manifestations and correlates of major depressive disorders in a population of high school students. The sample for this investigation consisted of 744 high school students (439 males and 305 females), aged 14 to 23 years (mean age: 17.2±1.5 years), attending 15 colleges in the North of France. Data for the study were obtained by means of the French version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and by means of a questionnaire devised for the study in order to investigate sociodemographic, behavioral, medical and environmental factors associated with depression. Assessment of major depressive episodes according to the DSMIII-R criteria was performed by medical doctors using a semi-structured interview. Sixteen students refused to participate. In the 728 remaining students, 32 (18 males and 14 females) had a major depressive episode, which is a prevalence of 4.4%. The strongest discriminators (DSMIII-R criteria) in identifying the depressed students were, in descending order, depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, psychomotor agitation or retardation, diminished ability to think or concentrate, recurrent thoughts of death. The mean CES-D score was significantly higher in depressed than in non-depressed students (28.9±8 vs 13.5±8.2 respectively; P<0.0001). Depressed students often complained of chronic somatic problems and insomnia, were dissatisfied with their body shape and often followed a specific diet. They also used psychostimulant substances. They were backward students and displayed antisocial behavior. They believed that relations with their parents were strained and often had no friend. Diagnosis of major depressive episode is also significantly associated with some family history disorders including depression, anxiety disorders, suicide attempts, alcohol and tranquilizer abuse and chronic organic disease. These data show that depression in its typical form is not rare in adolescents but is frequently underdiagnosed. They also show that it is often associated with other disorders, highlighting the need for epidemiological studies in order to specify the phenomenology of depression in this age group.

Language: fr

Keywords

adolescent; adult; human; Epidemiology; Adolescent; Depression; female; male; family; insomnia; depression; diet; body image; article; major clinical study; antisocial behavior; priority journal; Rating scale; Phenomenology; fetus