The general profile of children and adolescents with major depression referred to the Free State Psychiatric complex
Background: Depression can have far-reaching effects on thefunctioning and adjustment of young people. Among bothchildren and adolescents depression confers an increased riskfor illness, interpersonal and psychosocial difficulties. Objective:The aim of this study was to determine the profile ofchild...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2007-12-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/34 |
| _version_ | 1818200298593714176 |
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| author | F J W Calitz M Veitch A Verkhovsky D Nieuwoudt J Myburg G Joubert |
| author_facet | F J W Calitz M Veitch A Verkhovsky D Nieuwoudt J Myburg G Joubert |
| author_sort | F J W Calitz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Depression can have far-reaching effects on thefunctioning and adjustment of young people. Among bothchildren and adolescents depression confers an increased riskfor illness, interpersonal and psychosocial difficulties. Objective:The aim of this study was to determine the profile ofchildren (birth - 12 years) and adolescents (13 - 18 years) withmajor depression referred to the Child Mental Health Unit at theFree State Psychiatric Complex (FSPC) from 1 January 2004 to31 December 2004. Method: A total of 904 children and adolescents were referredto the Unit during 2004. From these referrals 100 children andadolescents (11.06%) were diagnosed with major depressionand were included in the study. Data analysis: The data were summarised using frequenciesand percentages (categorical variables) and means ofpercentiles (numerical variables). Results: The majority (74%) of the cases were in the adolescentage group and 61% were girls. The main complaints presentedby the parents or in the referral letter by the general practitionerswere behavioural problems (37%) such as stealing, aggressionand attention-seeking behaviour, followed by decrease inschool performance (25%), suspected depression (21%),suicidal tendencies (17%), and school refusal (8%). Twelve percent of the group had lost a family member. The main presentingclinical symptoms of major depression in the study group weresleep disturbance (59%), dysphoric (depressed) mood (57%),disturbance in appetite (49%), constant fatigue/loss of energy(43%), inability to enjoy activities that would normally givepleasure (37%), and impaired concentration (36%). Somaticcomplaints occurred in 42% of the study population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T02:35:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbab730092c14f63ae67181a2193d64b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1608-9685 2078-6786 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T02:35:26Z |
| publishDate | 2007-12-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbab730092c14f63ae67181a2193d64b2022-12-22T00:41:17ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Psychiatry1608-96852078-67862007-12-0113410.4102/sajpsychiatry.v13i4.34209The general profile of children and adolescents with major depression referred to the Free State Psychiatric complexF J W CalitzM VeitchA VerkhovskyD NieuwoudtJ MyburgG JoubertBackground: Depression can have far-reaching effects on thefunctioning and adjustment of young people. Among bothchildren and adolescents depression confers an increased riskfor illness, interpersonal and psychosocial difficulties. Objective:The aim of this study was to determine the profile ofchildren (birth - 12 years) and adolescents (13 - 18 years) withmajor depression referred to the Child Mental Health Unit at theFree State Psychiatric Complex (FSPC) from 1 January 2004 to31 December 2004. Method: A total of 904 children and adolescents were referredto the Unit during 2004. From these referrals 100 children andadolescents (11.06%) were diagnosed with major depressionand were included in the study. Data analysis: The data were summarised using frequenciesand percentages (categorical variables) and means ofpercentiles (numerical variables). Results: The majority (74%) of the cases were in the adolescentage group and 61% were girls. The main complaints presentedby the parents or in the referral letter by the general practitionerswere behavioural problems (37%) such as stealing, aggressionand attention-seeking behaviour, followed by decrease inschool performance (25%), suspected depression (21%),suicidal tendencies (17%), and school refusal (8%). Twelve percent of the group had lost a family member. The main presentingclinical symptoms of major depression in the study group weresleep disturbance (59%), dysphoric (depressed) mood (57%),disturbance in appetite (49%), constant fatigue/loss of energy(43%), inability to enjoy activities that would normally givepleasure (37%), and impaired concentration (36%). Somaticcomplaints occurred in 42% of the study population.http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/34 |
| spellingShingle | F J W Calitz M Veitch A Verkhovsky D Nieuwoudt J Myburg G Joubert The general profile of children and adolescents with major depression referred to the Free State Psychiatric complex South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| title | The general profile of children and adolescents with major depression referred to the Free State Psychiatric complex |
| title_full | The general profile of children and adolescents with major depression referred to the Free State Psychiatric complex |
| title_fullStr | The general profile of children and adolescents with major depression referred to the Free State Psychiatric complex |
| title_full_unstemmed | The general profile of children and adolescents with major depression referred to the Free State Psychiatric complex |
| title_short | The general profile of children and adolescents with major depression referred to the Free State Psychiatric complex |
| title_sort | general profile of children and adolescents with major depression referred to the free state psychiatric complex |
| url | http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/34 |
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