Clinically significant depressive symptoms in African American adolescent females in an urban reproductive health clinic.
Adolescent depression is a major public health concern. Depression and depressive symptoms are more prevalent in adolescent females and are associated with high-risk sexual behavior. Only one third of adolescents receive professional help for their depression, although about 90% visit their primary care providers on average 2-3 times per year. It is imperative that health professionals seek additional methods in the identification and treatment of depressive symptoms. This paper presents findings of the presence of clinically significant depressive symptoms in African American female adolescents receiving routine health care services within an adolescent primary care reproductive health clinic. Results revealed higher rates of depressive symptoms in this subsample of African American adolescent females when compared to the national sample, suggesting that primary care reproductive health clinics are a viable setting for the identification of depressive symptoms among low income, African American female adolescents. Psychosocial interventions and recommendations for the integration of primary care reproductive health, and behavioral health consultation services are presented.
Collins
Marietta H
MH
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 80 Jesse Hill Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. mcollin@emory.edu
Kelch-Oliver
Karia
K
Johnson
Kenia
K
Welkom
Josie
J
Kottke
Melissa
M
Smith
Chaundrissa Oyeshiku
CO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult