Prevalence of depression among adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the prevalence and pattern of depression among adolescents. METHODS: Adolescents of age group from 13 to 19 belonging to school/college students and school dropouts were assessed using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) by a team consisting of a pediatrician, psychologist and PGDCCD (Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Child Development) students. RESULTS: 11.2% of school dropouts had severe and extreme grades of depression as against 3% among school going and nil among college going adolescents.