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PubMed1999

Personality disorders in adolescence and risk of major mental disorders and suicidality during adulthood.

BACKGROUND: A community-based longitudinal study was conducted to investigate whether personality disorders (PDs) during adolescence increase the risk for Axis I psychiatric disorders and suicidality during early adulthood. METHOD: Psychosocial and psychiatric interviews were administered to a representative community sample of 717 youths and their mothers from 2 counties in the state of New York in 1975, 1983, 1985-1986, and 1991-1993. Anxiety, disruptive, eating, mood, personality, and substance use disorders and suicidal ideation and behavior were assessed in 1983 and 1985-1986, when the participants were adolescents, and in 1991-1993, when they were young adults. RESULTS: Adolescents with PDs were more than twice as likely as those without PDs to have anxiety, disruptive, mood, and substance use disorders during early adulthood. These associations remained statistically significant after co-occurring Axis I disorders during adolescence were controlled statistically. Cluster A, B, and C PDs and DSM-IV Appendix B PDs during adolescence were all associated with elevated risk for Axis I disorders during early adulthood after co-occurring Axis I and Axis II disorders during adolescence were controlled statistically. Cluster C PDs during adolescence were associated with elevated risk for suicidal ideation or behavior during early adulthood after co-occurring psychiatric disorders and suicidality during adolescence were controlled statistically. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents in the community with personality disorders are at elevated risk for major mental disorders and suicidal ideation or behavior during early adulthood. This increase in risk is not accounted for by co-occurring Axis I disorders or suicidality during adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Longitudinal estimates of puberty timing in Senegalese adolescent girls.

This study aimed to assess the timing of sexual maturation (breast development and menarche occurrence) among sub-Saharan African adolescent girls from rural areas. In the framework of a longitudinal study of growth at puberty, the stages of pubertal development (Tanner classification) and menarche occurrence were recorded at intervals between 1995 and 2000 in a sample of 406 Senegalese adolescent girls from a rural area. Nutritional status was estimated during infancy, childhood, and adolescence within this sample, and body composition was estimated only during adolescence. At the beginning of the study (1995), the adolescent girls were 11.4 years old (SD = 0.6). At the end of the study, they were 16.5 years old (SD = 0.6). Median and quartile ages at entry into each maturity stage and its confidence limits were estimated by a lognormal parametric survival model. These adolescent girls were shorter and thinner than girls of the same age from developed countries. Median age at the onset of breast development was 12.6 years (95% CI = 12.5-12.8). Median age at the end of sexual maturation and median age at menarche were estimated respectively at 15.8 years (95% CI = 15.7-15.9) and 15.9 years (95% CI = 15.7-15.9). These adolescent girls were less mature than other adolescent girls of the same age from other developing countries. Their puberty was extremely delayed compared to that of adolescent girls of the same age from industrialized countries. Puberty in these Senegalese adolescent girls is delayed by about 3 years. This may be due to malnutrition, significant energy expenditure, and poor diet and living conditions, and possibly to genetic control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Attitude and knowledge of high school pupils towards adolescents with special needs (Tourette's syndrome).

OBJECTIVE: To determine high school pupils' attitudes towards adolescents with special needs (for example: TS); to learn what they know about the symptomatology and the exceptional behavior of TS; and what they think about their social future. METHODS: Ninety-nine pupils participated in the study. Their mean age was 16.7 +/- 0.8 years. Forty-eight point five percent were boys, and the rest girls. They completed a questionnaire concerning knowledge and attitudes towards adolescents with special needs (diagnosed as TS). They had participated in lessons and class talks about handicapped children with psycho- behavioral symptoms. RESULTS: The scores for their knowledge were at a level of 68.9%. Half of the pupils knew and responded correctly that TS was of genetic origin; but the most important: they expressed a comprehensive and tolerant attitude towards impaired behavior in TS at a level of 55.3%. The tolerant attitude increased with advancing age and with school grades. The attitudes were more comprehensive in families suffering form their own emotional or other psychiatric difficulties. Forty-three point four percent of pupils understand and consider TS to be an emotional, behavioral and psychiatric entity. Sixty-two point six percent of pupils understand as well and believe that the disruptive behavior and outbursts in TS are involuntary and not under the adolescent's control. On the other hand, a quarter of the pupils see justification for repeated punishment of TS adolescents for their impaired behavior. Fifty-six point six percent of regular pupils were ready to develop friendship with TS classmates in spite of their unexpected and unruly behaviour. Eight-three point eight percent of pupils believe it is better to inform teachers and classmates about the impaired behavior of these TS adolescents. Concerning the future of these disabled adolescents, pupils scored a level of 44% for their optimistic beliefs about success in future life; 52% believe that in spite of all difficulties TS adolescents would be able to live an ordinary life, to raise a family and to work. CONCLUSIONS: It is crucial to improve pupils' attitudes in schools (as well as their teachers') towards adolescents with special needs (including TS). The authors recommend that TS be considered as a neuro-behavioral and psychiatric disorder; it should be considered as a disability, which calls for comprehension, (not punishment). It would also be of value to speak in classes about the handicaps and neurobehavioral limitations for example of these TS adolescents, as well as about other pupils in school with special needs, in order to behave socially correctly towards them. The final aim will be that pupils in school will learn to accept the different child and adolescent as they are.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Adolescent-onset nicotine self-administration modeled in female rats.

RATIONALE: Although the great majority of tobacco addiction begins during adolescence, little is known about differential nicotine effects in adolescents versus adults. OBJECTIVES: A rat model was used to determine the impact of the age of onset on nicotine self-administration. METHODS: In expt 1, nicotine self-administration of female Sprague-Dawley rats over a range of acute doses (0.01-0.08 mg/kg per infusion) was determined in adolescent (beginning at 54-62 days) versus adult (beginning at 84-90 days). In expt 2, chronic nicotine self-administration over 4 weeks from adolescence into adulthood was compared with the chronic self-administration beginning in adulthood. In expt 3, adolescent-adult differences in nicotine effects on body temperature and locomotor responses were determined. RESULTS: Adolescent-onset rats showed a significant main effect of increased nicotine intake compared with adult-onset rats in an eight-fold range of acute unit doses/infusion. Significant age differences were also seen in the chronic level of nicotine self-administration. Over 4 weeks, the adolescent-onset group had nearly double the rate of nicotine self-administration of the benchmark nicotine dose (0.03 mg/kg per infusion) compared to the adult-onset group. This increased nicotine intake persisted into adulthood. Adolescent rats had significantly greater response than adults to the hypothermic effects of nicotine, but had significantly less response than adults to the reduction in locomotor activity seen after nicotine. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent-onset nicotine self-administration in female rats was associated with significantly higher levels of nicotine self-administration versus rats, which began nicotine self-administration in adulthood. This greater self-administration persists into adulthood and may underlie greater propensity of adolescents to nicotine addiction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Gender differences in delinquent behavior among Korean adolescents.

The present study examined gender differences in the rate, type, and relevant variables underlying delinquent behavior among South Korean adolescents. Although female delinquency is increasing and becoming more violent in South Korea, the rate of delinquent behavior was found to be much lower among female than among male adolescents and female adolescents were much less involved in antisocial, aggressive, and psychopathic delinquent behavior compared to male adolescents. Moreover, compared to female delinquent adolescents, male delinquent adolescents were found to have greater tendencies towards antisocial personality, sociability, being sexually abused, and alcohol and drug use. In contrast, female delinquent adolescents had a greater tendency toward depression than male delinquent adolescents. No gender differences were found in the association between family dynamics and delinquent behaviors. Age and antisocial personality had the most significant total effects on male delinquent behavior. In contrast, alcohol and drug abuse was the strongest contributing factors in female delinquent behavior, although the level of alcohol and drug abuse was much higher among male adolescents than among female adolescents.

Achievement↗
PubMed2006

Acculturation and aggression in Latino adolescents: a structural model focusing on cultural risk factors and assets.

The specific aim of this investigation was to map cultural factors associated with aggressive behavior in Latino adolescents. Interviews were conducted with a sample of 481 foreign- and U.S.-born Latino adolescents living in North Carolina and Arizona. Structural Equation Modeling was used to validate a conceptual model linking adolescent and parent culture-of-origin and U.S. cultural involvement, acculturation conflicts, and perceived discrimination to family processes (familism and parent-adolescent conflict) and adolescent aggression. Parent-adolescent conflict was the strongest cultural risk factor followed by perceived discrimination. Familism and adolescent culture-of-origin involvement were key cultural assets associated with less aggressive behavior. Exploratory mediation analyses suggested that familism and parent-adolescent conflict mediated the effects of acculturation conflicts, parent and adolescent culture-of-origin involvement, and parent U.S. cultural involvement on adolescent aggression. Implications for prevention programming were discussed.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1991

Adolescent and older mothers' interaction patterns with their six-month-old infants.

Children of adolescent mothers suffer more physical, intellectual, and emotional difficulties than do other children. In order to gain a better understanding of the differences, the interaction patterns of adolescent mothers and non-adolescent mothers interacting with their young infants were compared. One hundred adolescent mothers and 29 married primiparous non-adolescent mothers were observed interacting with their six-month-old infants during a feeding episode and a play episode. All of the mothers had a high school education or less. During feeding, the adolescent mothers demonstrated less expressiveness, less positive attitude, less delight, less positive regard, fewer vocalizations, and a lower quality of vocalizations than non-adolescent mothers. During play, the adolescent mothers demonstrated less inventiveness, less patience, and less positive attitude than the non-adolescent mothers. These results extend and strengthen what is known about adolescent mothers patterns of interaction with their young infants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Is inhalant use a risk factor for heroin and injection drug use among adolescents in the United States?

PURPOSE: We examined whether inhalant use was associated with heroin and injection drug use (IDU) among adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2002/2003 administrations of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). We conducted logistic regression analyses to estimate associations of inhalant use with heroin use, heroin injection, and IDU, respectively, among adolescent drug users (N=8161). RESULTS: Approximately 30.9% of adolescents had ever used at least one illicit drug. More than one-fifth (22.2%) of adolescents were past-year or recent drug users. Among past-year adolescent drug users, 1.4% had progressed to heroin use and 1.2% reported IDU. Adolescents who had used inhalants and marijuana were 2.8 and 2.9 times as likely as adolescents who had used marijuana but not inhalants to report heroin use and any IDU, respectively. Adolescents who had used inhalants or other drugs but not marijuana were unlikely to use heroin. However, inhalant users, irrespective of their marijuana use histories, had greater odds of IDU than drug users who had not used inhalants. Adolescent drug users who were females, school dropouts, whites, or delinquents had significantly increased odds of heroin use and IDU. Cigarette smoking before the age of 15 was strongly associated with heroin use, and a history of foster care placement was associated with IDU. CONCLUSIONS: This national study of American adolescents identifies several subgroups of recent drug users, such as females, school dropouts, and youth who have used inhalants and marijuana, which have substantially increased odds of heroin use and IDU. Screening, prevention, and treatment interventions targeted to these groups might reduce medical and social complications of heroin use and IDU.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2004

Surgical approach to adolescent obesity.

The obesity epidemic has resulted in the premature onset of traditionally adult diseases in children and adolescents. Bariatric surgery can be used to achieve significant weight loss and resolution of major and minor comorbidities of obesity. It is not known, however, whether weight loss or comorbidity resolution after adolescent bariatric surgery is sustainable over the lifetime, given the powerful biologic mechanisms that are thought to play an important role in development of severe obesity in these patients. There are also concerns about whether bariatric procedures may have unanticipated adverse nutritional consequences when applied in adolescence. Principles of adolescent medicine and evidence from adult bariatric surgical studies can be used to rationally guide the application of bariatric procedures to a group of young patients wither serious medical and psychological comorbidities of severe obesity. Given the immediacy of some of the medical and psychosocial complications, impaired quality of life, and the added health care costs of adolescent obesity, adolescent bariatric surgery programs should be developed to meet these needs. Adolescent bariatric surgery programs should have expertise that enables them to assess and meet the unique medical, cognitive, physiological, and psychosocial needs of the adolescent. Indications for operation during adolescence should be conservative until appropriately designed clinical studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of these techniques applied to adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype in Iranian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: No evidence exists regarding the prevalence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype in adolescents. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of this phenotype in a representative sample of Tehranian adolescents. METHODS: Anthropometry and serum triglyceride concentration were assessed in a population-based cross-sectional study of 3036 Tehranian adolescents (1413 male and 1623 female) aged 10 to 19 years in 1998. Hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype was defined as concurrently having serum triglyceride concentration>or=110 mg/dL and waist circumference equal to or greater than the 90th percentile for age and gender. Overweight (>or=95th percentile) and at risk for overweight (>or=85th to <95th percentile) was defined based on the standardized percentile curves of body mass index suggested for Iranian adolescents. RESULTS: The prevalence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype was 6.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]=5.5-7.2) among Tehranian adolescents (males 7.3%, CI=5.9-8.7; females 5.6%, CI=4.4-6.7). When examined by body mass index category, 38.7% of overweight adolescents had a hypertriglyceridemic waist compared to 7.7% of adolescents at risk for overweight and 0.7% of adolescents at normal weight (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence showing that the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype is prevalent among 6.5% of Tehranian adolescents, and particularly among overweight adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Plasma lipid levels and nutritional intake in childhood- and adolescence-onset young type 1 diabetic patients in Japan.

In recent years, the diet of the young Japanese has changed to westernized diet with high fat content. Childhood-onset type 1 diabetic patients have had good diet training since onset of the disease, but adolescence-onset type 1 diabetic patients have already established westernized diet habit at onset of the disease, which may not be easily improved. We hypothesized that a difference of the age at onset of the disease may affect nutritional status and plasma lipid levels in Japanese type 1 diabetic patients. Plasma lipid levels and nutritional intake were compared between childhood- and adolescence-onset young type 1 diabetic patients. Our research involved 9 childhood-onset type 1 diabetic patients (childhood group), 11 adolescence-onset type 1 diabetic patients (adolescent group), and 24 age-matched non-diabetic control subjects. There were no significant differences in age and body mass index (BMI), daily energy intake among the childhood group, the adolescent group, and the non-diabetic control group. There was no significant difference in HbA1c level between the childhood group and the adolescent group. The adolescent group had significantly higher plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol than the childhood group (p<0.01, <0.05, and <0.001, respectively) or the control group (p<0.001, <0.001, and <00.001, respectively). The adolescent group had significantly lower plasma level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol than the childhood group (p<0.05). The adolescent group had significantly higher percentage energy intake from fat (31.7%, p<0.001), higher saturated fatty acids intake (19.0g/day, p<0.01), and higher cholesterol intake (428mg/day, p<0.05), and significantly lower polyunsaturated fatty acids intake (13.4g/day, p<0.05) and lower fiber intake (9.5g/day, p<0.01) than the childhood group. It is concluded that young Japanese type 1 diabetic patients with onset of adolescence have lipid abnormalities, which may be mainly caused by westernized dietary habits.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Prevalence of depression as measured by the CBDI in a predominantly adolescent school population in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional randomised study involving a predominantly adolescent school population (ranging from the 6th to the 11th grades) was conducted to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of depression in adolescents in the city of Mersin, Turkey. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A stratified sample of 4256 students was selected as representative of the city's adolescent school population. The students were divided into two groups according to diagnosis (Group I: depressive adolescents; Group II: adolescents without depression). The age range varied between 10 and 20 years, with a mean of 14.53 years (S.D. = 1.89), i.e. a mean of 14.73 years (S.D. = 1.79) for Group I, and 15.5 years (S.D. = 1.9) for Group II. Data was obtained via two structured questionnaires designed to determine the presence and clinical characteristics of depression both in adolescents and in their parents. In addition, the Child Beck Depression Inventory (CBDI) was administered to all students participating in the study. After quality control of data, the study sample was reduced to 4143 adolescents. The mean age of the students was 11.23 +/- 6.44 years, and the ratio of boys/girls was 1.19:1. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression according to the CBDI (cut-off point: 19) was found to be 12.55% in this study group, with a significantly higher prevalence of depression in girls than in boys. Binary regression analysis demonstrated that the most important factors involved in the onset of depression in adolescents were having problems with parents, staying down a grade, and humiliation at school, and that the most common symptoms were feelings of worthlessness/guilt, sadness, emptiness, irritability and somatic disorders. CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional prospective randomised school-based study has examined sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of adolescents with depression in a student population. It was found that in this study group there was a relatively high level of depressive symptoms, with a clear predominance of females over males. Other clinical characteristics of adolescents with depression have been discussed in the context of previous investigations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Expression of the HSPA2 gene in ejaculated spermatozoa from adolescents with and without varicocele.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mRNA expression of the HSPA2 gene in ejaculated spermatozoa in adolescents with and without varicocele. DESIGN: Controlled prospective study. SETTING: Patients in an academic research environment. PATIENTS: Adolescent patients with clinical diagnosed bilateral varicocele grades II and III, and adolescent patients without varicocele. INTERVENTION: Reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of HSPA2 gene expression in adolescents with and without varicocele. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Comparative RT-PCR expression analysis of HSPA2 gene mRNA, compared to the housekeeping beta-actin gene. RESULTS: Sperm from adolescents with varicocele and oligozoospermia had significantly lower levels of HSPA2 gene expression than both adolescents without varicocele (controls) and adolescents with varicocele and normal sperm concentration (P<.05). The latter group had a nonsignificant increase in gene expression compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on HSPA2 gene expression in ejaculated spermatozoa from adolescents and its relationship with varicocele pathology. Results demonstrated that HSPA2 expression was down-regulated in adolescents with varicocele and oligozoospermia compared to controls. There was a higher, albeit nonsignificant, gene expression in adolescents with varicocele and normal sperm concentration than in controls. We speculate that expression levels of this gene might be used as a molecular marker for the acquisition of thermal tolerance in ejaculated spermatozoa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Course and outcome of major depressive disorder in non-referred adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Although major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common disorders in adolescence, little is known about its course and outcome in non-referred adolescents. Therefore, the aims of this article were to examine the course and outcome of MDD in non-referred adolescents, and to examine factors related to its stability. METHODS: Five hundred and twenty-three adolescents were interviewed twice at an interval of about 15 months using the computerized Munich version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: Of the 90 adolescents who met the diagnosis of MDD at T1, 22 (24.4%) still met the same diagnosis at T2. Sixty-eight (75.6%) of them no longer met the diagnosis of MDD at T2, and in some of these cases, their depression was replaced by several other disorders; 44 adolescents received no diagnostic criteria for any DSM-IV disorders. The factors that were significantly associated with the stability of MDD included the presence of substance use disorders and parental alcohol problems, negative life events and negative coping, past suicidal attempt, suicidal thought, and concrete suicidal plan at the T1-interview. Adolescents with "chronic" (T1 and T2) compared to "transient" (only T1) MDD and those without any disorders were significantly more impaired in various life domains. LIMITATIONS: This study was based on a small number of adolescents with a chronic MDD. CONCLUSIONS: The course and outcome of MDD in majority of the adolescents seemed to have a favourable course, whereas in some adolescents, it tended to have a heterogeneous pattern.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Transactions among adolescent trait and state emotion and diurnal and momentary cortisol activity in naturalistic settings.

In a community sample of 52 adolescents, multilevel growth curve modeling was utilized to examine whether within-person changes in momentary mood states, and individual differences in trait emotional functioning, were related to adolescent cortisol levels in naturalistic settings. Salivary cortisol levels were measured seven times a day on two typical weekdays in conjunction with diary reports of adolescent mood states. Questionnaire reports of trait emotional functioning (depression, anxiety, and anger) were obtained, as were reports of demographic, developmental, and health control variables. After accounting for the effects of time of day and a wide range of control variables, within-person increases in state negative mood (worry/stress and anger/frustration) were significantly associated with within-person increases in cortisol. When examining trait emotional functioning, adolescents with higher levels of depressive symptoms had slightly lower basal cortisol levels, and adolescents with higher levels of trait anger had a significantly stronger cortisol response to awakening. Several developmental effects were found-adolescents at higher stages of pubertal development had daytime basal cortisol curves that were more elevated, had a steeper diurnal decline, and showed a lesser cortisol awakening response, and cortisol responses to worry/stress increased with age. Cortisol levels were also higher at moments adolescents were alone rather than with others, an effect that declined significantly with age. Cortisol levels were also higher at moments adolescents were alone rather than with others, an effect that declined significantly with age. Results suggest that ongoing transactions occur between adolescents' everyday emotional experiences and their cortisol levels, and that adolescent cortisol activity is modified by age/pubertal stage and by trait emotional functioning.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Decision-making impairments in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia.

Adolescence is a time of vulnerability for risk-taking behaviors. This is particularly true of adolescents with schizophrenia who present with high rates of substance use as compared to the general population. Using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), the authors compared decision-making processes in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia (onset of psychosis by age 18) to that of healthy volunteers. Fifteen adolescents with schizophrenia (aged 12-21 years) and 25 demographically similar healthy volunteers were administered the IGT. Overall, adolescents with schizophrenia performed significantly worse on the IGT than healthy adolescents as measured by a significant group by block interaction. Post-hoc testing revealed that adolescents with schizophrenia performed more poorly than healthy adolescents during the last two blocks of the task. Mathematical modeling further indicated that adolescents with schizophrenia allocated significantly more attention to monetary gains than losses encountered during the task, suggesting a hypersensitivity to rewards and relative insensitivity to future consequences. This is similar to what has been reported for adults with externalizing forms of psychopathology, such as those who abuse substances. These findings have potential implications for understanding the increased vulnerability for the development of substance abuse in adolescents with schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Adolescent stress and future smoking behaviour: a prospective investigation.

OBJECTIVE: Adolescent stress has been retrospectively associated with various measures of smoking behaviour in school-aged samples. The present study sought to extend this to a prospective investigation in order to examine the possibly formative influences of stress on the onset of smoking in adolescents. METHOD: A 12-month follow-up study related sources and degree of adolescent stress measured at study commencement with the onset of smoking behaviour 12 months later in a large cohort of adolescents attending Australian secondary schools. RESULTS: Adolescent stress was only weakly related to smoking onset in adolescent males and even this could possibly be explained by other factors. In adolescent girls, however, prospective associations were stronger and more broadly represented across the various domains of adolescent stress, suggesting that stress may exert a formative influence on smoking onset for girls. CONCLUSION: Management strategies for adolescent stress may be an affective target for smoking prevention programs among adolescent girls.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Suicidal depressed vs. non-suicidal depressed adolescents: differences in recent psychopathology.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have focused on the differences between two depressed groups of patients in child psychiatry: the suicidal and the non-suicidal adolescent population. As in other countries, depression is one of the most prevalent diagnoses in adolescents in Hungary. AIMS: The present study was designed to determine (a) whether there are specific symptoms to differentiate between two clinical samples of depressed children: patients expressing suicidal behaviour and their peers with no suicide attempts, and (b) if there are significant differences between parents' and adolescents' reports of the same symptoms. METHODS: Using a recently developed semi-structured interview (Diagnostic Evaluation Schedule for Children and Adolescents-Hungarian version, ), 132 symptoms were assessed for two clinical groups of depressed adolescents: a suicidal group (N=54) [corrected], and a non-suicidal group (N=78) [corrected]. The suicidal group had all made an unsuccessful suicide attempt and/or had had frequent suicidal thoughts during the 6 months prior to the study. The non-suicidal group had neither attempted suicide, nor had had suicidal thoughts during the previous 6 months. All cases were selected from a larger sample of 490 consecutively referred new outpatient children over a 1 year period in five psychiatric facilities in Hungary. Only 13-17-year-old adolescents participated in the study. Both samples were identified using operationalised computer algorithm criteria of DSM-IV major depressive disorder episode (MDD) irrespective of the current clinical diagnosis of the patients. The Pearson Chi-square test with Monte Carlo correction was used to evaluate the differences between the suicidal and the non-suicidal depressed samples. RESULTS: Hopelessness, negative self-esteem and violent behaviour were the only significant discriminators between the two study groups according to the parent interviews, with increased problem scores in the suicidal sample compared to the non-suicidal sample. Suicidal depressed adolescents view themselves as more depressed and violent than do non-suicidal depressed individuals and were less anxious about their parents. CONCLUSIONS: The two depressed samples (suicidal vs. non-suicidal individuals) have only very few dissimilarities. There are, however, some essential differences between the parental and adolescent perceptions of the suicidal and depressive symptoms of the adolescent. The findings of the study underscore the necessity of collecting data from both the parent and the adolescent. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional, no lifetime psychopathology, referred samples, no blind estimation of the suicidal status of patients.

Adolescent↗