Sex differences in the manifestations of depression in young people. A study of French high school students part I: Prevalence and clinical data.

The first part of this study investigates the prevalence and clinical manifestations of major depressive episodes in young people. The sample for this investigation consisted of 744 high school students (439 males and 305 females), aged 14 to 23 years, and attending 15 high schools in the North of France. Assessment of major depressive episodes according to DSM-III-R criteria was performed by medical doctors using a semi-structured interview and by means of the French version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Thirty-two students (18 males and 14 females) were found to have a major depressive episode with a prevalence of 4.1% in males and 4.7% in females. However, the results also showed that the significant manifestations of major depression differed according to sex and suggested that manifestations of major depression in female young people might differ from those observed in adults more markedly than in males. This may explain that the diagnostic performance of the CES-D was found to be higher in males than in females and that the female prevalence of major depression was found to be lower than those usually obtained with adolescent-specific diagnostic criteria.

Sex differences in the manifestations of depression in young people. A study of French high school students. Part II: Correlates and background factors.

The second part of this study investigates the correlates and background factors of major depression in young people. The study sample consisted of 744 high school students, (439 males and 305 females), aged 14 to 23 years, and attending 15 high schools in the North of France. Among them, 32 (18 males and 14 females) had a major depressive episode according to DSM-III-R criteria. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire devised for the study in order to investigate sociodemographic, behavioral, medical and environmental factors associated with depression. Antisocial behavior, more frequently found in males, was the only factor significantly differentiating male from female depressed students. On the other hand, school difficulties, health problems, impairments in interpersonal relationships and family history disorders were most often found significantly associated with major depression in males but not in females. According to these findings, the authors examine the concept of "masked depression" and advance some hypotheses about the reasons why major depression in young people is so often underdiagnosed.

[Haloperidol decanoate. Results of an open-ended multicentric study in chronic psychotic states]. / Décanoate d'halopéridol. Résultats d'une étude ouverte multicentrique dans les états psychotiques chroniques.

UNLABELLED: An open multicentric study of 196 in-patients was carried out in 9 centres. After an initial stabilization (min. 15 days) with oral haloperidol, patients received haloperidol decanoate IM for at least 24 weeks (or a minimum of 9 injections). RESULTS: - esterification of haloperidol increased the duration of its efficacy (interval between 2 injections: average 4 weeks) without interfering with its therapeutic activity (global appreciation scale, BPRS at each injection and at the end of the treatment); - equivalent quantities of haloperidol injected at a time were 15 to 20 times those administered daily during the initial stabilisation period; - side-effects were not different with haloperidol decanoate as compared to those of the previous period (haloperidol).