Depression among Australian adolescents

Objectives: To examine the prevalence and factors associated with depressio n in Australian adolescents. Design: A representative, multistage probability sample of Australian house holds conducted in 1998 (part of the National Survey of Mental Health and W ell-being). Adolescents completed self-report questionnaires and parents we re interviewed using a lay-administered, structured psychiatric interview a nd several questionnaires. Participants: 1490 adolescents aged 13-17 years and their parent or main ca regiver. 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 1490 adolescents originally sampled, 150 (10%) did not comp lete responses to questions on depression and were excluded from the analys is. Seventy of the remaining 1340 adolescents (5.2%; 95% CI, 4.0%-6.4%) met criteria for self-reported depression. Agreement between parent- and adole scent-reported depression was poor (kappa = 0.27). Adolescent-reported depr ession 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 previ ous 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 servic es (mode, 2; range, 1-5). Three per cent (2/70) of depressed adolescents ha d been treated with antidepressants. Conclusions: Depressed adolescents exhibit higher rates of health-risk beha viours and psychosocial impairment than non-depressed adolescents, but only a small number receive appropriate treatment. Staff working in school-base d services should be trained to identify adolescents with depression and fa cilitate referral for treatment.