Screening for Depression in Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities: Brief Report

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Developmental Disabilities
• Mental Health Screening

Background:

• Adolescent depression is a significant public health concern.
• Developmental disabilities (DDs) may increase the risk for depression.
• Universal screening for depression is recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the adherence to universal screening for adolescent depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) at initial visits.
• To determine the frequency of positive depression screenings in adolescents with DDs.
• To identify potential disparities in screening rates among adolescents with specific DD diagnoses.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of adolescents evaluated at a university-affiliated urban developmental center in 2019.
• Data collected included demographics, DD diagnoses, and PHQ-9 screening use and scores.
• Statistical analyses included chi-square and non-parametric tests.

Main Results:

• Of 52 adolescents with DDs, 58% (n=30) received PHQ-9 screening.
• 10% of screened adolescents (3/30) presented with moderate to severe depression; 3 endorsed suicidality.
• Females were more likely to have higher PHQ-9 scores. Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, and Phonological Disorder were less likely to be screened.

Conclusions:

• Over half of urban adolescents with DDs received depression screening, with a notable percentage screening positive for moderate to severe depression.
• Continued efforts for universal adolescent depression screening are warranted.
• Modifications to screening methods, such as reading the PHQ-9 aloud, should be considered for adolescents with reading or verbal challenges.