Introduction: Depressive and suicidal symptoms are common in adolescence, although often underestimated. For example, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (2009) found that 6.3% of High School students had attempted suicide and that 13.8% had seriously considered attempting suicide, during the previous year. Objectives: SEYLE (Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe) is a randomized controlled trial evaluating school-based interventions for suicide prevention. The study, funded by the EU, comprises about 12,000 adolescents belonging to 11 European countries. Aims: This analysis investigated the prevalence of depression and suicidal behaviours in the Italian sample. Methods: The Italian sample consisted of 1195 students (mean age 15.3±0.6; 68% females) from the Molise region. A self-reported questionnaire, including also well-established instruments, was administered. For the current analysis we focused on the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Paykel Suicide Scale. Results: Mean BDI-II score was 8±6.48. Total BDI-II scores were significantly higher in females than males (8.83±6.72 vs 6.22±5.55; p<0.0001), even after controlling for age. 210 adolescents (17.8%) scored higher than 13, indicating some degree of clinical depression. Mean PSS score was 1.14±2.38. Females also scored higher than males on the PSS (1.28±2.45 vs 0.83±2.20; p=0.002), even after controlling for age. Conclusions: Our results show a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts also among Italian adolescents, especially among females. We know that more than 90% of adolescents who commit suicide suffered from an associated psychiatric disorder, so become particularly important an early detection and an appropriate care of adolescents showing signs of psychopathology and distress.

DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL IDEATION AMONG ITALIAN ADOLESCENTS PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM THE SEYLE PROJECT

Iosue M;Carli V;D’Aulerio M;Basilico F;Recchia L;Wasserman C;Sarchiapone M;
2012-01-01

Abstract

Introduction: Depressive and suicidal symptoms are common in adolescence, although often underestimated. For example, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (2009) found that 6.3% of High School students had attempted suicide and that 13.8% had seriously considered attempting suicide, during the previous year. Objectives: SEYLE (Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe) is a randomized controlled trial evaluating school-based interventions for suicide prevention. The study, funded by the EU, comprises about 12,000 adolescents belonging to 11 European countries. Aims: This analysis investigated the prevalence of depression and suicidal behaviours in the Italian sample. Methods: The Italian sample consisted of 1195 students (mean age 15.3±0.6; 68% females) from the Molise region. A self-reported questionnaire, including also well-established instruments, was administered. For the current analysis we focused on the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Paykel Suicide Scale. Results: Mean BDI-II score was 8±6.48. Total BDI-II scores were significantly higher in females than males (8.83±6.72 vs 6.22±5.55; p<0.0001), even after controlling for age. 210 adolescents (17.8%) scored higher than 13, indicating some degree of clinical depression. Mean PSS score was 1.14±2.38. Females also scored higher than males on the PSS (1.28±2.45 vs 0.83±2.20; p=0.002), even after controlling for age. Conclusions: Our results show a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts also among Italian adolescents, especially among females. We know that more than 90% of adolescents who commit suicide suffered from an associated psychiatric disorder, so become particularly important an early detection and an appropriate care of adolescents showing signs of psychopathology and distress.
2012
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11695/17349
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