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Depression in Adolescents & Young Adults
Pediatrics; ePub 2016 Dec; Mojtabai, et al
The prevalence of depression in adolescents and young adults in the US increased from 2005 to 2014 and many of these individuals are untreated, according to a new study. Using data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health for 2005 to 2014, the study included 172,495 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years and 178,755 adults aged 18 to 25 years. Time trends in 12-month prevalence of major depressive episodes (MDEs) were examined. Researchers found:
- 12-month prevalence of MDEs increased from 8.7% in 2005 to 11.3% in 2014 in adolescents and from 8.8% to 9.6% in young adults.
- Age range of 12 to 20 years saw a statistically significant increase.
- Mental health care contacts overall did not change over time.
- However, the use of specialty mental health providers increased in adolescents and young adults; and the use of prescription medications and inpatient hospitalizations increased in adolescents.
Citation:
Mojtabai R, Olfson M, Han B. National trends in the prevalence and treatment of depression in adolescents and young adults. [Published online ahead of print December 1, 2016]. Pediatrics. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1878.
These numbers represent a 30% increase in depression among adolescents, to the point where now 1 in 11 adolescents suffers from depression every year. The increase in depression was more pronounced in girls than in boys and this fits with the greater increase of suicide in girls.1 Some have hypothesized that this may be linked to the increased rate of cyber-bullying among girls. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be an increase in treatment of depression over this same timeframe, which suggests many adolescents are going untreated. Thus, it remains important for primary care physicians to be aware of the risk of depression in adolescents in order to increase detection and treatment. —Neil Skolnik, MD