Depression In Adolescence Reading Week 0
Reading Information
Depression In Adolescence Introductory Reading
Week: 0
Read: 10/08/21
Article: Depression in adolescence (Anita Thapar, Stephan Collishaw, Daniel S Pine, Ajay K Thapar ,
2012)
Reference: Thapar, A., Collishaw, S., Pine, D. S., & Thapar, A. K. (2012). Depression in
adolescence. The Lancet, 379(9820), 1056-1067.
Abstract
● Unipolar depressive disorder in adolescence is common worldwide but often unrecognised
● More notable in girls after puberty and end of adolescence
● Highest in low-income and middle-income countries
● Depression: substantial present and future morbidity and heightens suicide risk
● Strongest risk factors: family history of depression/ exposure to psychosical stress,
inherited risks, developmental factors, sex hormones and psychosocial adversity
● Many similarities between adolescent and adult depression exist. However, adolescents' use
of antidepressants is a concern- clinical opinions are divided.
● Effective treatments are available but choices dependent on depression severity and
resource availability
● Prevention strategies targeted at high-risk groups are promising
Introduction
● Unipolar depressive disorder is a common mental health problem in adolescents worldwide,
with an estimated 1 year prevalence of 4-5% in mid to late adolescence
● Depression in adolescents is a major risk factor for suicide
● Depression leads to serious social and educational impairments and increased rate of
smoking, substance misuse and obesity
● Depression is defined as a cluster of specific symptoms with associated impairment
● Features of disorder between adults and adolescents are broadly similar
● DSM-IV: irritable rather than depressed mood is allowed as a core diagnostic symptom
● Depression in adolescence is generally missed due to irritability, mood reactivity and
fluctuating symptoms
● Unexplained physical symptoms can interfere with diagnosis: ED, anxiety, refusal to
attend school, decline in academic performance, substance misuse or behavioural problems
● Early on-set subform of equivalent adult disorder
● Depression is directly linked to pubertal changes in hormone-brain relations. However,