Depression in late adolescence: a cross-sectional study in senior high schools in Greece.
BACKGROUND
Depression is a common mental health problem in adolescents worldwide. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, comorbidity and sociodemographic and socioeconomic associations of depression and depressive symptoms, as well as the relevant health services use in a sample of adolescents in Greece.


METHODS
Five thousand six hundred fourteen adolescents aged 16-18 years old and attending 25 senior high schools were screened and a stratified random sample of 2,427 were selected for a detailed interview. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed with a fully structured psychiatric interview, the revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R). The use of substances, such as alcohol, nicotine and cannabis, and several sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables have been also assessed.


RESULTS
In our sample the prevalence rates were 5.67 % for the depressive episode according to ICD-10 and 17.43 % for a broader definition of depressive symptoms. 49.38 % of the adolescents with depressive episode had at least one comorbid anxiety disorder [OR: 7.76 (5.52-10.92)]. Only 17.08 % of the adolescents with depression have visited a doctor due to a psychological problem during the previous year. Anxiety disorders, substance use, female gender, older age, having one sibling, and divorce or separation of the parents were all associated with depression. In addition, the presence of financial difficulties in the family was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of both depression and depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence and comorbidity rates of depression among Greek adolescents are substantial. Only a small minority of depressed adolescents seek professional help. Significant associations with financial difficulties are reported.
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece. nadia.magklara@gmail.com.
Konstantina
K
Magklara
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece. bellos.stefanos@gmail.com.
Stefanos
S
Bellos
School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece. niakas@eap.gr.
Dimitrios
D
Niakas
Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, Greece. stylianidis.st@gmail.com.
Stelios
S
Stylianidis
Department of Child Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. gkolaitis@med.uoa.gr.
Gerasimos
G
Kolaitis
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece. vmavreas@cc.uoi.gr.
Venetsanos
V
Mavreas
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece. p.skapinakis@gmail.com.
Petros
P
Skapinakis
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004243:Divorce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D035781:Siblings; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology