Depression in inner city adolescents attending an adolescent medicine clinic

Interviews of 70 healthy inner city adolescents attending an adolescent medicine clinic, using the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA), revealed that 13% met criteria for current major depressive disorder. Lifetime diagnoses of major depression were found in 30% of the subjects, with many describing recurrent episodes and chronic residual symptoms. Depression in inner city adolescents represents a serious problem that may be best first detected in a medical setting.