The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on July 19, 2005
The European Journal of Public Health 2005 15(5):489-493; doi:10.1093/eurpub/cki041
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Youth Health |
Major depressive episode and physical health in adolescents and young adults: results from a population-based interview survey
Linnea Haarasilta1,2, Mauri Marttunen1,3, Jaakko Kaprio1,4 and Hillevi Aro1
1 National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, Helsinki, Finland
2 Turku University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Clinic of Adolescent Psychiatry, Turku, Finland
3 Hospital District of University of Helsinki, Peijas Hospital, Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Vantaa, Finland
4 University of Helsinki, Department of Public Health, Helsinki, Finland
Correspondence: Linnea Haarasilta, National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, Mannerheimintie 160, 00300 Helsinki, Finland, tel: +358 40 744 5052, fax: +358 9 4744 4878, e-mail: linhaa{at}utu.fi
Background: This paper aimed to investigate associations between major depressive episode (MDE) and chronic illness, disability, self-perceived health and number of sick-days among adolescents and young adults in the general population. Methods: The Finnish Health Care Survey 1996 was a cross-sectional nationwide epidemiological study. A random sample of 509 adolescents and 433 young adults was interviewed in 1996. DSM-III-R MDE during the past 12 months was defined using The University of Michigan Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short-Form algorithm. Data on physical health were gathered in the interview. Results: In multivariable logistic regression, chronic illness [odds ratio (OR) 1.78; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03, 3.05], poor self-rated health (OR 2.26; 95% CI 1.01, 5.07), more than three sick-days in the past 6 months (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.02, 2.92) and respiratory allergies (OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.00, 5.75) were associated with MDE. Among 15- to 19-year-olds, disabling chronic illness was related to MDE (OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.06, 6.36), and thoughts of death were more prevalent in the presence of chronic illness among those with MDE [35.2% versus 65.7%; F(1,67) P = 0.024]. Migraine was associated with MDE among young adults (OR 6.18; 95% CI 1.14, 30.8). Conclusions: Symptoms of depression should be investigated among adolescents with chronic illness or frequent sick-days. The degree of reported disability should be noted. Young people with both chronic illness and depressive symptoms should be assessed for thoughts of death and possible suicidality.
Keywords: adolescents, chronic illness, depression, self-perceived health, sick-days
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