General Population Sample Of Adolescents Research Articles

The Mini-Social Phobia Inventory: psychometric properties in an adolescent general population sample

BackgroundOnset of social phobia (SP) typically occurs in adolescence. Short screening instruments for its assessment are needed for use in primary health and school settings. The 3-item Mini–Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) has demonstrated effectiveness in screening for generalized SP (GSP) in adults. This study examined the psychometrics of the Mini-SPIN in an adolescent general population sample. MethodsThree hundred fifty adolescents aged 12 to 17 years were clinically interviewed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children—Present and Lifetime Version for identification of SP and other Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Axis I disorders, blind to their Mini-SPIN status. Associations between SP; subclinical SP; other anxiety, depressive, and disruptive disorders; and Mini-SPIN scores were examined, and diagnostic efficiency statistics were calculated. The association between Mini-SPIN scores and the generalized subtype of SP was also examined. ResultsAs in adults, the Mini-SPIN items differentiated subjects with SP from those without. A score of 6 points or greater was found optimal in predicting SP with a sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 84%, and positive and negative predictive values of 26% and 99%. The Mini-SPIN also possessed discriminative validity, as scores were higher for adolescents with SP than they were for those with depressive, disruptive, and other anxiety disorders. The Mini-SPIN was also able to differentiate adolescents with GSP from the rest of the sample. ConclusionsThe Mini-SPIN has good psychometrics for screening SP in adolescents from general population and may have value in screening for GSP.

Dynamic Association Between Interpersonal Functioning and Positive Symptom Dimensions of Psychosis Over Time: A Longitudinal Study of Healthy Adolescents

Cross-sectional studies have indicated that alterations in social functioning, particularly interpersonal functioning, are associated with the occurrence of psychotic symptoms and experiences at different levels of the extended psychosis phenotype (ranging from population psychometric expression of liability to overt psychotic disorder). However, more research is needed on the development of this association over time. Cross-lagged path modeling was used to analyze bidirectional, longitudinal associations between 4 dimensions of subclinical psychotic experiences (persecutory ideation, bizarre experiences, perceptual abnormalities, and magical thinking) and interpersonal functioning in an adolescent general population sample (N = 881 at T1, N = 652 at T2, and N = 512 at T3) assessed 3 times in 3 years. All symptom dimensions showed some association with interpersonal functioning over time, but only bizarre experiences and persecutory ideation were consistently and longitudinally associated with interpersonal functioning. Poorer interpersonal functioning predicted higher levels of bizarre experiences and persecutory ideation at later measurement points (both T1 to T2 and T2 to T3). Poor interpersonal functioning in adolescence may reflect the earliest expression of neurodevelopmental alterations preceding expression of psychotic experiences in a symptom-specific fashion.

An assessment of the construct validity of the CHU9D in the Australian adolescent general population

To assess the construct validity of the CHU9D in an adolescent general population sample. The CHU9D is a new generic preference-based measure of health-related quality of life developed specifically for application in the economic evaluation of health care treatments and interventions for young people. A web-based survey was developed including the CHU9D and HUI2 instruments and administered to a community-based sample of consenting adolescents (n = 710) aged 11-17 years. The practicality, face and construct validity of the CHU9D was examined. The relationship between the CHU9D and HUI2 instruments was assessed by a comparison of responses to similar dimensions and the utility scores derived from the two instruments. The CHU9D demonstrated high completion rates. CHU9D was able to discriminate between respondents according to their self-reported general health (Kruskal-Wallis P value <0.001). The mean CHU9D adolescent population utilities were similar to those generated from the HUI2 [Mean (SD) CHU9D utility 0.844 (0.102) and HUI2 utility 0.872 (0.138)], and the intra-class correlation coefficient indicated good levels of agreement overall (ICC = 0.742). The findings from this study provide support for the practicality, face and construct validity of the CHU9D for application with adolescents aged 11-17 years.

Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis reactivity to social stress and adolescent cannabis use: the TRAILS study

To investigate the relationship of life-time and repeated cannabis use with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity to social stress in a general population sample of adolescents. Adolescents who reported life-time or repeated cannabis use, life-time or repeated tobacco use and never use of either cannabis or tobacco were compared with respect to their HPA axis reactivity during the Groningen Social Stress Task (GSST), which was based on the Trier Social Stress Task. A large prospective population study of Dutch adolescents [the TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS) study]. A total of 591 adolescents (51% male) who participated in the GSST, which was an additional measurement during the third assessment wave. HPA axis stress-reactivity was indexed by four cortisol samples collected before, during and after the GSST. Furthermore, all adolescents in our study completed self-reported questionnaires on life-time and repeated cannabis and tobacco use. Models were adjusted for sex, recent alcohol use, experimental session risk status, socio-economic status, mood and time of the experimental session. Life-time cannabis users had significantly lower stress-reactivity levels when compared to abstainers [odds ratio (OR) = 0.68, confidence interval (CI) = 0.55-0.85, P < 0.01] and life-time tobacco users (OR = 0.79, CI = 0.64-0.98, P < 0.05). In addition, repeated cannabis users also exhibited lower stress-reactivity levels when compared to life-time ever users of either tobacco or cannabis (OR = 0.74, CI = 0.53-0.98, P < 0.05). Lower hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis stress-reactivity in adolescents is related specifically to life-time and repeated cannabis use.

The relationship between coping and subclinical psychotic experiences in adolescents from the general population – a longitudinal study

Subclinical psychotic experiences during adolescence may represent liability for developing psychotic disorder. Both coping style and the degree of persistence of psychotic experiences may play a role in the progression to clinical psychotic disorder, but little is known about the causal relationship between the two. Path modelling was used to examine longitudinal relationships between subclinical positive psychotic experiences and three styles of coping (task-, emotion- and avoidance-oriented) in an adolescent general population sample (n=813) assessed three times in 3 years. Distinct developmental trajectories of psychotic experiences, identified with growth mixture modelling, were compared on the use of these coping styles. Over time, emotion-oriented coping in general was bi-directionally related to psychotic experiences. No meaningful results were found for task- or avoidance-oriented coping. Females reported using a wider range of coping styles than males, but the paths between coping and psychotic experiences did not differ by gender. Persistence of psychotic experiences was associated with a greater use of emotion-oriented coping, whereas a decrease in experiences over time was associated with an increased use of task-orientated coping. Emotion-oriented coping is the most important coping style in relation to psychotic experiences, as it may contribute to a 'vicious cycle' and is associated with persistence of experiences. In addition, more task-oriented coping may result in a decrease in psychotic experiences. Results suggest that opportunities for intervention may already be present at the level of subclinical psychosis.

The validity of DSM‐IV cannabis abuse and dependence criteria in adolescents and the value of additional cannabis use indicators

This study assessed the validity of DSM-IV cannabis abuse and dependence criteria in an adolescent general population sample and evaluated the usefulness of additional cannabis use indicators. Data came from the 2008 Survey on Health and Consumption during the Day of Defense Preparation (ESCAPAD), a cross-sectional self-administered survey conducted in France. The analytical sample comprised 3641 adolescents aged 17-19 years who reported cannabis use in the past 12 months. To assess DSM-IV criteria of cannabis abuse and dependence, the Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI) was used. As additional cannabis use indicators, daily use, use when alone and use before midday were assessed. Confirmatory factor analyses and two-parameter logistic item response theory (IRT) models were run. Differential item functioning was assessed using the IRT log-likelihood ratio approach. A one-factor model comprising both abuse and dependence criteria showed the best fit to the data. Abuse item legal problems showed the greatest severity, whereas dependence items larger/longer and tolerance were found least severe. Discriminatory power was lowest for impaired control and legal problems. Additional cannabis use indicators increased the precision of the overall DSM-IV criterion set. Gender-based differential item functioning was observed for items tolerance, withdrawal and use before midday. The current DSM conceptualization with two distinct and graded diagnostic classes has limited validity among adolescents. In forthcoming revisions of the classification system, several existing criteria should be revised or dropped, new indicators of substance use disorders should be included and gender should be considered.

Early Expression of Negative/Disorganized Symptoms Predicting Psychotic Experiences and Subsequent Clinical Psychosis: A 10-Year Study

The cognitive and motivational impairments observed in psychotic disorders may reflect early developmental alterations that, when combined with later environmental exposures, may drive the onset of positive psychotic symptoms. The epidemiological predictions of this model were tested. A longitudinal prospective cohort study (the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology Study) was conducted with a representative general population sample of adolescents and young adults from Munich (N=3,021), who were 14-24 years of age at baseline. Sociodemographic factors, environmental exposures, and measures of psychopathology and associated clinical relevance were assessed across three waves, covering a period of up to 10 years, by clinical psychologists using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Both negative/disorganized and positive psychotic symptoms were frequent (5-year cumulative prevalence rates of around 12%) and occurred in combination more often than predicted by chance. Negative/disorganized symptoms revealed a pattern of sociodemographic associations indicative of developmental impairment, whereas the positive symptoms were associated with environmental exposures such as trauma, cannabis use, and urbanicity. Negative/disorganized symptoms predicted positive symptoms over time, and co-occurrence of positive and negative/disorganized symptoms was predictive of clinical relevance in terms of secondary functional impairment and help-seeking behavior. The results suggest that the negative/disorganized features associated with psychotic disorder are distributed at the population level and drive the ontogenesis of positive psychotic experiences after exposure to environmental risks, increasing the likelihood of impairment and need for care.

Negative symptoms precede the onset of first episode psychosis in a prospective general population sample of adolescents

Negative symptoms precede the onset of first episode psychosis in a prospective general population sample of adolescents

Negative features of psychosis precede onset of psychosis in a prospective general population sample of adolescents

Negative features of psychosis precede onset of psychosis in a prospective general population sample of adolescents

Acne is prevalent but use of its treatments is infrequent among adolescents from the general population

Little is known about the use of acne treatments among teenagers in the community. To assess the prevalence of use of acne treatments in a general population sample of adolescents and to investigate factors associated with its use. During official school examinations, 594 adolescents (14-18 years old) were examined for acne on the face and body using a validated scoring system. In addition, they were interviewed about current and prior treatment use by showing them packages of available (non-)prescription treatments of acne in Belgium. Despite the high prevalence of acne, its treatments were used infrequently; 13% had used topicals and 5% systemic drugs. Among adolescents who used therapy, benzoylperoxide and oral antibiotics were most often used. Although the likelihood of having used treatment increased significantly for both number of retentional and inflammatory lesions (P < or = 0.03), only a quarter of those with 20 or more papules and/or pustules had used topical treatment, and 10% systemic therapy. Multivariate logistic regression models demonstrated that girls were about twice as likely to have used topical agents (adjusted OR = 2.30 [95%CI = 1.37, 3.87]). Those with more inflammatory lesions on the face and with more extensive acne on the chest and back were about three times more likely to have used topical and/or systemic acne therapy. Acne is very common among teenagers but very few have actually used treatments. These findings suggest that it may be worthwhile to better inform the community about acne and its treatment options to reduce acne severity and its impact on those affected.

Over-representation of Maori New Zealanders among adolescents in a schizotypy taxon

Background Minority ethnic and migrant groups are often over-represented among those with schizophrenia. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine whether Maori, the aboriginal minority of New Zealand, are over-represented in a schizotypy taxon derived from a general population sample of adolescents. Method Secondary school students ( n = 387) aged 13 to 17 years completed self-report measures of four schizotypy attributes, magical thinking, hallucinatory tendency, self-referential ideation, and perceptual aberration, and indicated ethnic descent and self-identified ethnic belonging. Results Taxometric analyses (maximum covariance, maximum eigenvalue, latent modes) yielded consistent evidence of taxonicity of schizotypy. Participants who were of Maori descent were over-represented in the schizotypy group. Conclusions Ethnicity, or the stress and resilience factors for which ethnicity is a proxy measure, has a measurable impact on psychometric risk for schizophrenia.

A longitudinal study of the effects of adolescent cannabis use on high school completion.

To examine the extent to which weekly cannabis use during mid-adolescence may increase the risk of early school-leaving. A prospective study of a general population sample of adolescents studied from ages 15-21 years in Melbourne, Australia. Computer-assisted self-completion questionnaires and telephone interviews conducted in six waves at ages 15-18 and again at age 21 in a sample of 1601 male and female school students. Weekly cannabis use, assessed prospectively, was associated with significantly increased risk of early school-leaving. This effect remained after adjustment for a range of prospectively assessed covariates including demographic characteristics, other substance use, psychiatric morbidity and antisocial behavior. There was suggestive evidence of an interaction between weekly cannabis use and age with the effects of weekly cannabis use on early school-leaving being strongest at the youngest ages and diminishing progressively with age. Early regular cannabis use (weekly use at age 15) is associated with increased risk of early school-leaving. These effects of regular cannabis use may diminish with increasing age and are likely to operate through the social context within which cannabis is used and obtained.

The 12-month prevalence and characteristics of major depressive episode in a representative nationwide sample of adolescents and young adults.

This study set out to estimate the 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R major depressive episode (MDE) and to analyse factors associating with psychosocial impairment, episode duration, phenomenology and symptom severity in a representative general population sample of adolescents (15-19-year-olds) and young adults (20-24-year-olds). The Finnish Health Care Survey '96 (FINHCS '96) was a cross-sectional nationwide epidemiological study. A random sample of 509 adolescents and 433 young adults was interviewed in 1996. MDE was assessed by University of Michigan Composite Diagnostic Interview Short-Form. The 12-month prevalence of MDE was 5.3 % for adolescents (females 6.0%, males 4.4%) and 9.4% for young adults (females 10.7%, males 8.1%). When moderate psychosocial impairment was included in case definition, the prevalences were lowered by 20-25%. Increased impairment was associated with drunkenness at least twice a month, a higher mean number of depressive symptoms and impaired concentration. The median episode duration was 1 month. No factors associating with duration were found. With the exception of symptoms related to appetite being more common among females than males, the phenomenology of MDE was mainly independent of age and gender. Episodes of major depression among adolescents and young adults in the general population are short but often associated with psychosocial impairment, especially if frequent drunkenness coexists.

Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders in Adolescents Aged 12 to 16 Years: Clinical and Polygraphic Findings

To determine the frequency, symptoms, and polygraphic features of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) in adolescents aged 12 to 16 years. Cross-sectional study. Randomly selected secondary schools in the city of Seville, SPAIN: A general population sample of adolescents (n = 101; mean [+/- SD] age, 13.2 +/- 0.8 years). An 82-item questionnaire regarding anthropometric data and nocturnal and daytime symptoms suggestive of SRBD was administered. Symptoms were evaluated according to a 4-point frequency scale. Snorers answered "sometimes" or "often" in the question about snoring, and nonsnorers answered "never" or "rarely." All subjects underwent an overnight cardiorespiratory polygraphy at home. Twenty-nine percent of the subjects were snorers. Excessive daytime sleepiness was present in 14% of subjects, and sleep apnea was present in 3%. Polygraphy showed a respiratory disturbance index > or = 10 in 18 subjects (17.8%), but concurrent symptoms highly suggestive of SRBD were found in only 2 subjects (1.9%). Snorers had higher waist-to-hip ratios and a higher frequency of witnessed apnea or labored breathing as well as higher values of respiratory events as compared with nonsnorers. However, oximetry data were similar in both groups. In a nonselected group of adolescents aged 12 to 16 years, the frequency of symptoms potentially associated with SRBD was similar to that reported for younger children. Snoring was associated with a higher occurrence of other nocturnal symptoms, a more central pattern of body fat distribution, and a higher respiratory disturbance index as compared with nonsnorers. Although polygraphic abnormalities were mild, two cases of probable SRBD were found with a prevalence rate of 1.9%.

DSM-IV alcohol disorders in a general population sample of adolescents and young adults.

AIMS/DESIGNS: As part of the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology (EDSP) study, results from the baseline cross-sectional assessment of DSM-IV alcohol disorders are presented for a sample of 14-24-year-olds residents in Munich, Germany (N = 3021; 71% response rate). Life-time prevalence of DSM-IV alcohol abuse (men: 15.1%; women; 4.5%) was found to be considerably more prevalent than dependence (men: 10.0%; women 2.5%) with few cases among respondents younger than 16 years of age; 12-month prevalence of abuse was 8.4% among men and 2.7% among women and of dependence was 7.3% among men and 2.2% among women. Results show that peak incidence of alcohol disorders occurs at 16-17 years of age and that early initiation into alcohol use is associated with an increasing odds of disorder onset, especially for dependence among women. Exploratory analysis of retrospectively assessed diagnostic stability show: a temporal progression to abuse and then dependence, that nearly half of past abuse diagnoses are in remission, abuse remission is more common than progression to dependence, and dependence is highly persistent, especially among women. Alcohol disorders are frequent in adolescent and young adults being characterized by transient abuse and less prevalent but persistent dependence syndromes. The relatively high prevalence of dependence diagnoses in this young population wit few years of alcohol use is discussed with regard to the clinical validity of DSM-IV criteria in adolescents and young adults.

Prevención de emociones negativas en la adolescencia : valoración de técnicas cognitivo-conductuales

This study presents data about the efficacy of teaching different strategies (training in selfesteem, relaxation, social skills training and problem solving) in order to diminish depression and anxiety levels in an adolescent general population sample. Epidemiological studies performed on developed societies show an increase of emotional problems at this stage of life. The goal of our work is the assessment and solution of these problems. To assess the effectivity of the intervention, we applied a prevention program on a sample formed by 225 adolescents with an average age of 13.22 belonging to two different groups: intervention and comparation. Both groups have similar age, sex and Social Economical State (SES). A statistical analyses was carried out in order to determine the predictive weight of each of the program's modules in decreasing anxiety and depression levels. Our results show that anxiety levels are reduced through relaxation training and social skills improvement. On the other hand, social skills improvement was the only type of intervention that had no effect in decreasing depression levels.

Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents With Cancer: A Longitudinal Study

Seventeen adolescent oncology patients and 21 childhood oncology patients were administered a self-report inventory of depression and a self-report psychosocial life events inventory three times at 4-month intervals over a 1-year period. The adolescent oncologic sample had a mean level of depressive symptoms that did not differ from a general population sample of adolescents. The childhood oncologic sample had a mean level of depressive symptoms significantly lower than the reported mean of depressive symptoms for a general population sample of the same age. Depressive symptoms were highly related to psychosocial life events, but except for number of hospitalizations in the childhood oncologic sample, depressive symptoms were unrelated to the course of the oncologic illness.

Parental Socialization Factors and Adolescent Drinking Behaviors

From family socialization theory, it is hypothesized in this study that parents, as models and as agents of socialization, influence the development of various types of drinking behaviors in their children. In-home interviews were conducted with a representative general population sample of adolescents from 12 to 17 years old and their mothers and fathers. The findings revealed that adolescent drinking can be explained in part by parental models of drinking behavior; for example, heavier-drinking parents were more likely than other parents to have adolescents who were also heavier drinkers. Parental socialization factors, particularly support and to a lesser degree control, were also shown to have an effect on the development of adolescent drinking behaviors. It was concluded that the family socialization process should be considered as a critical element in the prevention of problem behaviors such as alcohol abuse.