[Stress symptoms and stress coping in depressed girls].
OBJECTIVE
Depressive disorders occur frequently in adolescents. Maintenance of depression has been related to stress and stress coping.


METHODS
The study describes which stress load and which strategies of stress coping are present in girls with major depression. 74 girls with major depression were compared to a normal control group with regard to stress symptoms and stress coping. All subjects were diagnosed with a structured clinical interview according to DSM-IV criteria. Stress and stress coping strategies were measured by standardized and validated questionnaires.


RESULTS
Girls with major depression had more symptoms of stress and were characterized by inadequate stress coping compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These cross-sectional data show deficits in stress coping that might reinforce stress symptoms as well as degree of depression. However, cause and effect can only be clarified by a longitudinal design.
Abteilung für Klinische und physiologische Psychologie, Fachbereich I, Universität Trier.
Ulrike
U
Schmidt-Gies
Reinhold
R
Laessle
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Depression; Jugendliche; Stress; Stressbewältigung; children; major depression; stress; stress coping