Skip Navigation



The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on July 19, 2005
The European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/cki041
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (Rapid PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
15/5/489    most recent
cki041v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Haarasilta, L.
Right arrow Articles by Aro, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Haarasilta, L.
Right arrow Articles by Aro, H.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.
Received September 25, 2003
Accepted July 22, 2004

Article

Major depressive episode and physical health in adolescents and young adults: results from a population-based interview survey

Linnea Haarasilta 1*, Mauri Marttunen 2, Jaakko Kaprio 3, and Hillevi Aro 4

1 National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, Helsinki, Finland; Turku University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Clinic of Adolescent Psychiatry, Turku, Finland
2 National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, Helsinki, Finland; Hospital District of University of Helsinki, Peijas Hospital, Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Vantaa, Finland
3 National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, Helsinki, Finland; University of Helsinki, Department of Public Health, Helsinki, Finland
4 National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, Helsinki, Finland

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Linnea Haarasilta, E-mail: linhaa{at}utu.fi


  Abstract

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.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINEHome page
A. L. Dunn and P. Weintraub
Exercise in the Prevention and Treatment of Adolescent Depression: A Promising but Little Researched Intervention
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, November 1, 2008; 2(6): 507 - 518.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
J.-C. Suris, P.-A. Michaud, C. Akre, and S. M. Sawyer
Health Risk Behaviors in Adolescents With Chronic Conditions
Pediatrics, November 1, 2008; 122(5): e1113 - e1118.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
B. Ruo, D. W. Baker, J. A. Thompson, P. K. Murray, G. M. Huber, and J. J. Sudano Jr
Patients With Worse Mental Health Report More Physical Limitations After Adjustment for Physical Performance
Psychosom Med, May 1, 2008; 70(4): 417 - 421.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J Public HealthHome page
J. P. Mackenbach
Europe's precious children
Eur J Public Health, December 1, 2005; 15(6): 555 - 556.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.