ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: This qualitative study aimed to understand the lived experiences of adolescents with depression seeking help in our healthcare system, with the focus on initial symptoms, experience of care and reflection after recovery. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 adolescents, aged between 13 and 19 years, who were diagnosed and treated for diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th edition major depressive disorder and clinically judged to have recovered at the time of recruitment. Data were analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis, with a focus on how the adolescents spoke about their experience of depression. RESULTS: The findings suggested that our adolescent participants had initially tried managing depression within their own circle, and that thoughts of suicide and self-harm, as well as anhedonia-avolition symptoms were the most challenging to deal with. Recovered participants were observed to express a high degree of empathy towards others going through depression. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to have surveyed adolescents in our Asian city-state on multiple aspects of their experience of depression. It allows a wide-ranging description of this condition and has the potential to improve understanding and inform care delivery.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is a prominent mental health concern among adolescents. Few studies have examined adolescent DSH in non-Western countries. This study examines the prevalence, types and associated risk factors of DSH in a clinical sample of adolescents in Singapore. METHODS: Using a retrospective review of medical records, demographic and clinical data were obtained from 398 consecutive adolescent psychiatric outpatients (mean age = 17.5 ± 1.4 years, range = 13-19 years) who presented at Changi General Hospital from 2013 to 2015. RESULTS: 23.1% (n = 92) of adolescents engaged in at least one type of DSH. Cutting was the most common type of DSH reported. Females were three times more likely to engage in DSH than males. DSH was positively associated with female gender (odds ratio [OR] 5.03), depressive disorders (OR 2.45), alcohol use (OR 3.49) and forensic history (OR 3.66), but not with smoking behaviour, living arrangement, parental marital status, past abuse or family history of psychiatric illness. CONCLUSION: Interventions targeting adolescent DSH should also alleviate depressive symptoms, alcohol use and delinquent behaviours.
