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Children
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Predictors and Diagnosis of Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents
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Predictors and Diagnosis of Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 May 2024) | Viewed by 29559

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Saral Desai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Psychiatry, Tower Health/Phoenixville Hospital, Phoenixville, PA 19406, USA
2. Department of Psychiatry, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
Interests: pediatric addictions; health risk behaviors; adolescent mental health; substance use disorders; public health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Donna Sudak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Professor of Psychiatry, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2. Program Director, Tower Health/Phoenixville Hospital General Psychiatry Training, Phoenixville, PA, USA
Interests: psychiatric education; cognitive-behavioral therapy; supervision; suicide

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is a great honor to serve as the Guest Editors for this Special Issue of Children, entitled “Predictors and Diagnosis of Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents”.

In children and adolescents, major depressive disorder is associated with the increased risk of suicide. Statistically, mental health concerns are identified in third of children who die by suicide. Current evidence suggests that depressive symptoms in children and adolescents may have atypical presentations, such as irritable mood. If left unaddressed, such depressive symptoms could lead to significant psychosocial impairment and potential increased morbidity and mortality risk.

The goal of this Special Issue is to expand our understanding of the risk factors and symptomatic presentations of depressive disorders in children and adolescents. Such understanding will allow us to better predict, diagnose and treat depressive symptoms in these populations.

We invite investigators to submit contributions in the form of original research articles, review articles, case reports and editorials that will expand our current understanding of this critical topic.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Saral Desai
Prof. Dr. Donna Sudak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • adolescents
  • children
  • depression
  • diagnosis
  • predictors
  • depressive
  • symptoms
  • mental health
  • suicide

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 1111 KiB  
Article
School and Bicultural Factors as Mediators between Immigrant Mothers’ Acculturative Stress and Adolescents’ Depression in Korea
by Yangmi Lim
Children 2023, 10(6), 1010; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10061010 - 3 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1769
Abstract
In Korea, marriages between Korean men and foreign women have surged since the late 1990s, resulting in public interest in the psychosocial adjustment of their children. This study examined the mediating effects of immigrant mothers’ school involvement, adolescents’ school adjustment, and bicultural acceptance [...] Read more.
In Korea, marriages between Korean men and foreign women have surged since the late 1990s, resulting in public interest in the psychosocial adjustment of their children. This study examined the mediating effects of immigrant mothers’ school involvement, adolescents’ school adjustment, and bicultural acceptance on the relationship between the mothers’ acculturative stress and adolescents’ depression, as well as whether the structural relationships differed by the sex of adolescents. Data were collected from 1238 dyads of first-grade students (605 boys, 633 girls; age = 12.97 ± 0.35 years) in Korean middle schools and their immigrant mothers (age = 43.52 ± 5.13 years) who participated in the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study. The structural equation modeling analysis revealed that mothers’ acculturative stress was indirectly and positively related to adolescents’ depression through (1) the serial mediations of mothers’ school involvement and adolescents’ school adjustment and (2) the individual mediation of adolescents’ school adjustment. Furthermore, the multigroup analysis indicated that the relationships between adolescents’ school adjustment and depression and between adolescents’ bicultural acceptance and depression significantly differed between male and female adolescents. The study provides directions for schools and communities to increase immigrant mothers’ school involvement and to facilitate their children’s school adjustment and bicultural acceptance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predictors and Diagnosis of Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents)
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15 pages, 345 KiB  
Article
Nutritional Status and Poverty Condition Are Associated with Depression in Preschoolers
by Betsabé Jiménez-Ceballos, Erick Martínez-Herrera, María Esther Ocharan-Hernández, Christian Guerra-Araiza, Eunice D. Farfán García, Uriel Emiliano Muñoz-Ramírez, Claudia Erika Fuentes-Venado and Rodolfo Pinto-Almazán
Children 2023, 10(5), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10050835 - 4 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2334
Abstract
Consensus has been reached that symptoms of depression can begin as early as preschool. Nevertheless, only few studies have associated environmental (malnutrition) and social factors (poverty condition, access to health systems, etc.) to the onset of depression in preschoolers. The aim of this [...] Read more.
Consensus has been reached that symptoms of depression can begin as early as preschool. Nevertheless, only few studies have associated environmental (malnutrition) and social factors (poverty condition, access to health systems, etc.) to the onset of depression in preschoolers. The aim of this study was to explore possible associations between malnutrition (underweight, overweight/obesity), poverty status (home quality, overcrowding), access to healthcare systems and the presence of depressive symptoms in the preschoolers of a semi-rural community. In total, 695 children between 3 and 6 years from the municipality of Chiconcuac, Mexico were evaluated for symptoms of depression with the Preschool Depression Scale for Teachers (ESDM 3-6). Additionally, they were assessed for nutritional status and divided into three groups (low weight, normal weight, overweight/obesity), and their parents were asked to fill out a social demographic questionnaire. Malnutrition status OR = 2.702, 95% CI [1.771–4.145]; UW OR = 4.768, 95% CI [2.570–8.795] and OW/OB OR = 1.959, 95% CI [1.175–3.324]; poverty condition per se OR = 1.779, 95% CI [0.9911–2.630]; housing quality OR = 2.020, 95% CI [0.9606–2.659] and overcrowding = 1.619, 95% CI [0.8989–4.433] were associated to a greater risk for children to show depressive symptoms (DS). Access to healthcare was negatively related with the risk of presenting DS (OR = 0.660, 95% CI [0.3130 to 1.360]). Social and environmental factors such as malnutrition, home quality and overcrowding may increase the risk of presenting DS as soon as in preschool. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predictors and Diagnosis of Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents)
11 pages, 312 KiB  
Article
Risk and Protective Factors in Ecuadorian Adolescent Survivors of Suicide
by Marly Johana Bahamón, José Julián Javela, Stefano Vinaccia, Shadye Matar-Khalil, Andrés Cabezas-Corcione and Evelyn Esther Cuesta
Children 2023, 10(3), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10030549 - 14 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2716
Abstract
Suicide is one of the main causes of death among the adolescent population, which is why it is considered an important mental-health problem. In addition to this situation, for each suicide, the group of people who survive it (known as suicide survivors) can [...] Read more.
Suicide is one of the main causes of death among the adolescent population, which is why it is considered an important mental-health problem. In addition to this situation, for each suicide, the group of people who survive it (known as suicide survivors) can present serious emotional affectations, becoming a population at risk for this problem. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of suicide-survivor status on risk factors and protective factors for suicide. A total of 440 adolescents with a mean age of 15.78 (SD = 1.74) participated, who were divided according to survivor status, identified as the SV group (79 cases), and non-survivors, identified as the NSV group—adolescents that did not have experience or contact with a suicide attempt (361 cases). A questionnaire of sociodemographic characterization and risk conditions, the Alexian Brother Urge to Self-Injure (ABUSI), the Plutchik Suicide Risk Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Cognitive and Affective Empathy Test (TECA) were applied. Descriptive statistics, mean difference for independent samples, contingency tables, X2 statistic, Fisher’s exact statistic, and Cohen’s d coefficient were used. The results show significant differences between SV and NSV participants in risk and protective factors regarding the presence of a greater adoption of perspective and emotional understanding. On the other hand, NSV adolescents presented higher scores of perceived social supports regarding risk factors, and there was a higher proportion of a history of suicide attempt, severity/hospitalization, impulse to self-harm, and level of suicidal risk in the SV group. The need to incorporate forms of suicide prevention with the survivor population is discussed, increasing the possibilities of postvention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predictors and Diagnosis of Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents)
14 pages, 498 KiB  
Article
Prevalence and Determinants of Depressive Symptoms among Young Adolescents in Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Sarbhan Singh, Chee Herng Lai, Nuur Hafizah Md Iderus, Sumarni Mohd Ghazali, Lonny Chen Rong Qi Ahmad, Lim Mei Cheng, Mohamad Nadzmi Nadzri, Asrul Anuar Zulkifli, Jeyanthi Suppiah, Rafdzah Ahmad Zaki, Nik Daliana Nik Farid, Rama Krishna Supramanian, Awatef Amer Nordin, Chong Zhuo Lin, Kushilpal Kaur and Nur’ain Mohd Ghazali
Children 2023, 10(1), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10010141 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 8017
Abstract
Depression is the most common mental health problem affecting adolescents globally, wherein its increasing prevalence together with the negative health impacts escalates the need for further research in this area. This work determined the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among young [...] Read more.
Depression is the most common mental health problem affecting adolescents globally, wherein its increasing prevalence together with the negative health impacts escalates the need for further research in this area. This work determined the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among young adolescents in Malaysia. A total of 1350 adolescent aged 13 to 14 years in school across nine secondary schools in Selangor state, Malaysia participated in a cross-sectional study. Independent variables were examined using the using the Global School-Based Student Health Survey included age, gender, ethnicity, alcohol intake, smoking and illicit drug use, loneliness, bullying, parental marital status, income and supervision; and the Health Literacy and Stigma questionnaire examined mental health literacy levels. Depressive symptoms were the dependent variable which was examined using the Center for Epidemiology Study Depression (CESD) instrument. Prevalence of depressive symptoms among all participants was 19 % (95% CI [16.9, 21.2]), with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms being reported among females 26.3% (95% CI [23.0, 29.8]) compared to males 11.7% (95% CI [9.4, 14.4]). Determinants namely females (AOR = 3.83; 95% CI [2.66, 5.52]), smoking (AOR = 6.16; 95% CI [3.15, 12.05]), been bullied (AOR = 3.70; 95% CI [2.51, 5.47]), felt lonely (AOR = 10.46; 95% CI [7.09, 15.42]) and having no parental supervision (AOR = 1.79; 95% CI [1.26, 2.53]) significantly increased the odds of depressive symptoms among all adolescents in the multivariate model. In addition, feeling lonely, being bullied and smoking were identified as common significant determinants of depressive symptoms across both genders. Feeling lonely (65% to 71%) and being bullied (10% to 19%) were ranked as the most important determinants of depressive symptoms among young adolescents. Tackling these factors would be instrumental in helping decision makers formulate depression prevention strategies and activities for adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predictors and Diagnosis of Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents)
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10 pages, 1152 KiB  
Article
Hopelessness, Suicidality, and Co-Occurring Substance Use among Adolescent Hallucinogen Users—A National Survey Study
by Saral Desai, Vidisha Jain, Sona Xavier and Wei Du
Children 2022, 9(12), 1906; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9121906 - 5 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 13010
Abstract
(1) Objectives: Hallucinogens are being explored as a potential treatment of psychiatric disorders. Micro dosing of illicitly purchased hallucinogen drugs is on the rise despite conclusive benefits. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and odds of hopelessness, suicidality, and co-occurring substance use among [...] Read more.
(1) Objectives: Hallucinogens are being explored as a potential treatment of psychiatric disorders. Micro dosing of illicitly purchased hallucinogen drugs is on the rise despite conclusive benefits. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and odds of hopelessness, suicidality, and co-occurring substance use among adolescent hallucinogen users. (2) Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) 2001–2019 data that nationally represents school-going US adolescents. We identified hallucinogen use based on the survey questions, exploring the use of hallucinogens (LSD, PCP, mescaline, and mushrooms). (3) Results: Out of a total of 125,550 respondents, 8.4% reported using hallucinogens. Overall, the trend of hallucinogen use decreased from 13.3% (2001) to 7.0% (2019) (pTrend < 0.0001). Hallucinogen users were at high odds of feeling sad and hopeless (aOR: 1.40; 95%CI: 1.21–1.61; p < 0.0001), considering suicide (aOR: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.08–1.70; p = 0.009), and planning suicide (aOR: 1.49; 95%CI: 1.19–1.86; p = 0.001). Additionally, adolescent hallucinogen users had a higher prevalence of alcohol, cigarette, e-cigarette, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, inhalants, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy use. (4) Conclusions: The overall trend of hallucinogen use decreased among school-going American adolescents. We found a high prevalence of co-occurring substance use among hallucinogen users. We found that hallucinogen users were at high odds of feeling sad, hopeless, and considering and planning suicide. Further research is needed to explore the effects of recreational hallucinogen use among the adolescent population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predictors and Diagnosis of Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents)
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