[Prevalence of mental disorders and psychoactive substance use in metropolitan 17-year old youth population]

To determine the extent to which mental disorders (depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders) and psychoactive substance use are prevalent among Krakow secondary school adolescents in the late adolescent phase.

A representative sample of the population of Krakow secondary school pupils was tested. Two-stage draw method identified a group of 1933 2nd form pupils of all types of secondary schools: grammar schools, technical schools and vocational schools (17-year-olds). They were tested using the following screening questionnaires: Beck Depression Scale, EAT-26 eating disorders scale, Obsessive-compulsive disorder (Leyton) scale and the author's drug questionnaire.

Girls declared symptoms of mental disorders twice as often as boys (41.2% vs. 22.7%). Among girls, the most common disorders were: depressive symptoms (33.6%), eating disorder symptoms (18.7%) and obsessive-compulsive disorders (5.4%). And in the boys group: depressive symptoms (22.7%), eating disorder (7.3%) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (3.4%). Findings were obtained concerning the prevalence of substance use in the boys and girls group (73% vs. 68%), mainly alcohol, as well as alcohol and cigarettes and alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.

The prevalence of mental disorders in the population of 17-year-olds is significant; it concerns especially depressive symptoms and eating disorder symptoms. A significant prevalence of psychoactive substance use was found in this age group, mainly alcohol and mixed type substance use: alcohol and cigarettes and alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.