Major and minor depression in female adolescents: onset, course, symptom presentation, and demographic associations

✍ Scribed by Paul Rohde; Christopher G. Beevers; Eric Stice; Kelly O'Neil

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 192 KB
• Volume: 65
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9762
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.20629

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

We examined the epidemiology and phenomenology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and minor depression among a community sample of 496 female adolescents. Diagnostic interviews were conducted annually for 7 years, allowing us to examine onset, course, and symptom presentation among participants 12 through 20 years old. Approximately 1 of 6 girls experienced MDD. MDD episodes had a mean duration of 5.3 months (SD=4.2). One‐year prevalence for MDD peaked at age 16 (5.3%). White racial status and younger age were associated with greater worthlessness and suicidality during an MDD episode. One of 5 girls met criteria for minor depression. Adolescents from racial/ethnic minority groups were at especially high risk for minor depression. Adolescence is a high‐risk period for depression in young women, although its prevalence and phenomenology vary as a function of age and race/ethnicity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65: 1–11, 2009.