« Wisely choose help in choosing doctors | Main | Survey suggests significant portion of US adolescents with depression may go untreated »
May 16, 2009
SAMHSA report suggests nearly one in 10 US teens may have experienced major depression in past year
HealthDay (5/13, Mundell) reported that, according to findings released May 13 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), "nearly one in 10 American adolescents have experienced at least one bout of major depression in the past year, but only about 39 percent of those cases received treatment."
The SAMHSA report indicated that "health insurance coverage was a major deciding factor in whether or not treatment occurred." And, of "those children who did receive treatment for depression, about 59 percent saw or spoke with a counselor, just under 37 percent interacted with a psychologist, 27.3 percent saw or spoke with either a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, 26.6 percent used a general practitioner or family doctor, and 46.8 percent received a prescription medication to treat their depression."
The report defined "a major depressive episode...as a period of two weeks or more in which the person experienced depressed mood or loss of interest, plus at least four other symptoms, such as change in functioning, trouble sleeping or eating, and/or problems with concentration or self-image."
Related Links:
- "Most Depressed Teens Don't Get Treatment," E.J. Mundell, Healthday, May 13, 2009.
Posted by admin at May 16, 2009 02:38 PM