Status Of Adolescent Mental Health Research Articles

SOCIAL SUPPORT IN ACCESSING ADOLESCENTS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Introduction: The survey reported that adolescents experienced severe depression (15.6%) and extreme stress (6.3%) in Warungboto, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In fact, with this condition, they are reluctant to access mental health services. Adolescents' skills still lacking in problem-solving and inadequate social support are thought to be the triggering factors for low access to health services. Aims: to determine the social support for adolescents in accessing mental health services. Methods: This type of research is quantitative research with a cross-sectional approach. The unit of analysis is adolescents (15-24 years) who are identified as having stress and depression based on the results of early detection of mental health. The sample size is 36 teenagers, with a total sampling technique. The variables are family support, peer support, mental health status, problem-solving, and self-control measured in the questionnaire. Meanwhile, mental health status was assessed using DASS-21 and PSS-10. Results: There was a significant relationship between social support from family (p-value 0.001, 95% CI 1.581-76.551) and peers (p-value 0.018, 95% CI 1.108 – 2.608) with adolescent mental health status. Adolescents with depression and stress are very few who get good social support from their families in accessing mental health services. This study proves that family social support is a significant factor in accessing mental health services. Conclusion: Family involvement in overcoming adolescent mental health problems is crucial. However, health providers can also provide community-based mental health services with a peer approach.

Effects of mental health status during adolescence on primary care costs in adulthood across three British cohorts.

This study examines the association between mental health problems in adolescence and general practice (GP) costs during adulthood up to age 50 in the UK. We conducted secondary analyses of three British birth cohorts (individuals born in single weeks in 1946, 1958 and 1970). Data for the three cohorts were analysed separately. All respondents who participated in the cohort studies were included. Adolescent mental health status was assessed in each cohort using the Rutter scale (or, for one cohort, a forerunner of that scale) completed in interviews with parents and teachers when cohort members were aged around 16. Presence and severity of conduct and emotional problems were modelled as independent variables in two-part regression models in which the dependent variable was costs of GP services from data collection sweeps up to mid-adulthood. All analyses were adjusted for covariates (cognitive ability, mother's education, housing tenure, father's social class and childhood physical disability). Adolescent conduct and emotional problems, particularly when coexisting, were associated with relatively high GP costs in adulthood up to age 50. Associations were generally stronger in females than males. Associations between adolescent mental health problems and annual GP cost were evident decades later, to age 50, suggesting that there could be significant future savings to healthcare budgets if rates of adolescent conduct and emotional problems could be reduced. Not applicable.

The Future Proofing Study: Design, methods and baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort study of the mental health of Australian adolescents.

The Future Proofing Study (FPS) was established to examine factors associated with the onset and course of mental health conditions during adolescence. This paper describes the design, methods, and baseline characteristics of the FPS cohort. The FPS is an Australian school-based prospective cohort study with an embedded cluster-randomized controlled trial examining the effects of digital prevention programs on mental health. Data sources include self-report questionnaires, cognitive functioning, linkage to health and education records, and smartphone sensor data. Participants are assessed annually for 5years. The baseline cohort (N=6388, M=13.9years) is broadly representative of the Australian adolescent population. The clinical profile of participants is comparable to other population estimates. Overall, 15.1% of the cohort met the clinical threshold for depression, 18.6% for anxiety, 31.6% for psychological distress, and 4.9% for suicidal ideation. These rates were significantly higher in adolescents who identified as female, gender diverse, sexuality diverse, or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (all ps<0.05). This paper provides current and comprehensive data about the status of adolescent mental health in Australia. The FPS cohort is expected to provide significant insights into the risk, protective, and mediating factors associated with development of mental health conditions during adolescence.

Expression of CXCR4 on CD4+ T cells predicts body composition parameters in female adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe eating disorder characterized by excessive weight loss and lack of recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight. Individuals with AN frequently exhibit an enhanced inflammatory state and altered blood levels of cytokines and chemokines. However, the expression of chemokine receptors in AN and the association with body composition parameters and treatment effects are still unknown. In this study, we examined the expression of CCR4, CCR6, CXCR3, and CXCR4 on peripheral blood T cells in female adolescents with AN before (T0, n = 24) and after 6 weeks of multimodal therapy (T1, n = 20). We also investigated their value to predict body mass index (BMI) and fat mass index (FMI) at baseline. Using multi-parameter flow cytometry, we found increased expression of CCR4, CXCR3, and CXCR4, but not CCR6, on CD4+ T cells in AN at T0 when compared to healthy controls (HC, n = 20). At T1, CXCR3 and CXCR4 expression decreased in AN. We found a close link between CCR4, CCR6 and CXCR4 expression and the adolescent mental health status in the study cohort as determined by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Specifically, CXCR4 expression correlated positively with emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems, as well as with the total sum score of the SDQ. In addition, CXCR4 expression on CD4+ T cells was a significant predictor of BMI and FMI in female adolescents. Our findings that CXCR4 expression on T cells is altered in adolescents with AN and predicts body composition parameters in adolescents suggest an impact of this chemokine receptor in the pathogenesis of AN.

Development of a novel continuous measure of adolescent mental health inspired by the dual-factor model.

BackgroundAccording to the Dual-factor Model, mental health is comprised of two related constructs: subjective well-being and psychopathology. Combining these constructs can provide a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of adolescent mental health than considering either on its own. The model suggests the need to group mental health into four distinct categories, which does not recognize its potential continuum and adds statistical complexity. In this study, we developed a continuous measure inspired by, and as a complement to, the Dual-factor Model. Our goal was to demonstrate a novel approach to developing a valid measure for use in public health research that captures varying mental health states more accurately than traditional approaches and has advantages over the categorical version.MethodsSelf-report data are from the 2014 Canadian Health Behavior in School-aged Children study (n = 21,993). Subjective well-being was measured by combining indicators of life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect. Internalized and externalized symptoms scales were combined to measure psychopathology. The continuous dual-factor measure was created by subtracting standardized psychopathology scores from standardized subjective well-being scores. Construct validity was assessed using multivariable linear regression by examining associations between factors known to be associated with adolescent mental health status (demographic characteristics, social and academic functioning, and specific indicators of mental health) and average mental health scores.ResultsThe average age was 14.0 (SD = 1.41) years. The continuous mental health score ranged from 5 to 67 [Mean (SD): 50.1 (9.8)], with higher scores indicating better overall mental health. The nature and direction of the associations examined supported construct validity. Being from a more affluent family, and having more supportive relationships with family, peers, teachers, and classmates was associated with greater mental health (Cohen’s d: 0.65 to 1.63). Higher average marks were also associated with better mental health. Average mental health scores were much lower if students reported feeling hopeless or rated their health as fair or poor.ConclusionA continuous measure of mental health based on the Dual-factor Model appears to be a comprehensive and valid measure with applications for research aimed at increasing our understanding of adolescent mental health.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Status in Kermanshah Province of Iran

Background: This study is part of the national survey of the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders in Iranian children and adolescents (IRCAP), aiming to survey the prevalence of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders in Kermanshah and its outskirts. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the child and adolescent mental health status in the Kermanshah Province of Iran. Methods: A representative randomized sample of 993 urban and rural children aged 6 to 18 (349 aged 6 - 9 years, 333 aged 10 - 14 years, and 311 aged 15 - 18 years) participated in a cross-sectional study to be screened for psychiatric disorders using the Persian version of K-SADS-PL. In addition, a demographic questionnaire was completed by the participant's parents. Results: According to DSM-IV, out of 993 participants, 114 (11.5%) had at least a kind of childhood psychiatric disorder. The highest rate of psychiatric disorders was in 10 to 14-year-old children (n = 43; 12.9%; 95% CI = 9.7 - 16.9). The most common psychiatric disorders were anxiety disorders (n = 65; 6.5%; 95% CI = 5.2 - 8.3), followed by behavioral disorders (n = 30; 3%; 95% CI = 2.1 - 4.3), neurodevelopmental disorders (n = 22; 2.2%; 95% CI = 1.1 - 2.7), and depressive disorders (n = 17; 1.7%; 95% CI = 1.1 - 2.7). Conclusions: Compared to other pediatric diseases, the psychiatric disorder's prevalence is pretty high among the youths of Kermanshah Province. Therefore, child and adolescent mental health should be a priority for the youth healthcare system in Kermanshah.

Building Resilience on Adolescent Mental Health Associated with Emerging Risk and Protective Factors among Ethnic Groups

A bulk of studies have focused on systematically catalogued risk and protective factors (e.g., parental monitoring, peer, neighborhood support) in terms of adolescent mental health status concerning resilience; however, they did not display any improvement regarding adolescent mental health, particularly in school-based interventions. Therefore, I suggested that whether other emerging factors (e.g., nutrition, physical activity) could be beneficial to promote effective school-based interventions. Hence, I examined adolescent mental health outcomes (depression and suicidality) associated with dietary patterns, physical activity, social support, watching TV, video/computer games, and sleeping habits factors regarding resilience approach. A secondary data analysis was employed based on the 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) among 15,364 12-18 year-old African American, Asian, and Caucasian adolescents. Regarding nutrition, low levels of fruit, vegetable, potato, and fruit juice were associated with higher odds of depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, for the most part among diverse ethnicities. Similarly, greater green salad intake resulted in lower odds of poor mental health outcomes among Asians and Caucasians. Next, consistent with current literature, low levels of social support in schools and higher levels of joining a sport team were strong predictors of poor mental health outcomes among overall ethnic groups. Lastly, healthy sleeping patterns, greater physical activity, low levels of being bullied in school, cyber bullied, and video/computer games increased the risk of poor mental health outcomes among adolescents.