Abstract
Context: In Japan, the media has termed youth depression “modern type depression,” which has recently become an important topic. After entering the workforce, some youth become depressed, which in turn has contributed to the increase in leaves of absence from work. It is important to ascertain medical backgrounds and clinical features and to provide appropriate treatment for these individuals. Objective: To clarify the recent tendency in youth depression by comparing symptoms experienced by current university students with those experienced 15 years ago, and to examine future depression and suicide prevention measures. Design: Retrospective case control study involving review of interview and medical records. Results: There were significantly more students with major depression 15 years ago compared with the present. Currently, however, there are significantly more students with comorbidities such as autism spectrum disorder. Moreover, there were significantly more students with comorbidities among those who experienced prolonged depression. Conclusion: This study found that current students had significant comorbidities, particularly autism spectrum disorder. It is important that youths with autism spectrum disorder are understood and not isolated.
Highlights
According to White paper on Suicide Prevention of Cabinet Office, Japan has witnessed more than 30,000 suicides annually since 1998
It is important that youths with autism spectrum disorder are understood and not isolated
We hypothesized that recently the youth depression changed as the opinion of many researchers, and atypical depression increased while major depression decreased
Summary
According to White paper on Suicide Prevention of Cabinet Office, Japan has witnessed more than 30,000 suicides annually since 1998. Cabinet Office established Basic Act on Suicide Prevention to counter the increasing trend of suicide in 2006. White Paper reported that the number of youth suicides remains high [1]. Because suicide usually involves significant depression, early intervention for depressive symptoms is an urgent need [3]. According to DSM-5, Major Depressive Disorder have five (or more) following symptoms during 2 weeks period: 1) Depressed mood, 2) Loss of interest or pleasure, 3) Significant weight loss, 4) Insomnia or hypersominia, 5) Psychomotor agitation or retardation, 6) Fatigue or loss of energy, 7) Feelings of worthlessness of excessive or inappropriate guilt, 8) Diminished ability to think concentrate, and 9) Recurrent thoughts of death. In Japan, the media have termed youth depression “new type of depression” which has recently become
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