Socioeconomic implications of underdiagnosing teenagers' depression

The aim of our research was to demonstrate once again that teenagers' depression still remains way too much underdiagnosed, the last one having important socioeconomic implications. Thus it is absolutely necessary to implement depression screening in psychiatric clinics.

The study was carried out in 2 stages, I; a group of 1126 in-patients from "Sf. Maria" Hospital, and II the analysis of the socioeconomic implications of teenagers' depression.

Only 19, 11% of the depressive patients had a previous depression diagnosis, the rest of 80, 89% were new cases, recently diagnosed; the depressive teenagers are more exposed to drugs and alcohol abuse, to antisocial behavior, and to poorer results in school.

Screening depression implementation would reduce very much the risk of teenagers' depression underdiagnosing.