Health
Researchers identify characteristics of teens at risk for major depression
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 8, 2008
Adolescents at higher risk for a major depressive episode within the next year can be identified by a combination of 20 variables, according to a study in the November/December Annals of Family Medicine.
Researchers analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Questions about being bothered by things that usually didn't bother them, being sad during the past week, and being unable to shake off feeling down were most helpful in predicting a depressive episode. The index, called the Chicago Adolescent Depression Risk Assessment is available online catchit-public.bsd.uchicago.edu/.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/12/08/hlbf1208.htm.