title: Adolescents' attitudes and opinions about depression treatment.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine adolescent preferences for depression treatment. Adolescents (n = 156) completed a survey that included: their preferences for type of depression treatment and the method of delivering it; their perception of the importance of side effects of depression treatments and a rating of their willingness to seek treatment if they were depressed. A screen for depressive symptoms (CES-D10) was also completed. Adolescents showed higher preference for psychotherapy than antidepressants. Greater severity of depression symptoms, perceived social support for the particular treatment modality, and general willingness to seek treatment predicted greater preference for psychotherapy than for antidepressants. Family doctors, psychiatrists, and psychologists were the preferred treatment providers, and adolescents preferred that treatment be delivered in a private office. Weight gain was the most deterring side effect of antidepressants for girls and loss of sex drive for boys. Adolescents' preference for psychological therapy suggests that broader availability of psychotherapy may enhance help-seeking and compliance in depression treatment in this vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada. krisbradley@dal.ca
authors.forename: Kristina L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Cyndi L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Brannen
authors.forename: Alexa L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bagnell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009674:Nova Scotia; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult