[Depression, generalized anxiety and risk of problematic substance use in high school students]

To estimate the prevalence and comorbidity of depression, generalized anxiety, and risk of problematic substance use in adolescents, and to examine the sociodemographic variables associated with these mental health problems.

2,022 students from first to third year of high school (9th to 11th grade) from 8 educational establishments in the northern area of Santiago, Chile, participated in the study. The mean age was 15.2 years and 49.5% of the sample was female. Sociodemographic, measures of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]), generalized anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item [GAD-7]), and risk of problematic substance use (Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Family/Friends, Trouble [CRAFFT]) data were collected. Data were analyzed using bivariate hypothesis testing and logistic and Poisson regression models.

52.9% met the criteria for one or more mental health problems. A total of 35.2% scored positive for depression, 25.9% for generalized anxiety, and 28.2% for risk of problematic substance use, with differences by gender in the first two and differences by gender and age in the third. A total of 26.5% scored positive for two or more mental health problems. Regression models showed differences in the associations between gender, age, and not living with both parents with the mental health problems studied.

There is a high prevalence and comorbidity in the three mental health problems studied. The results show the importance of assessing comorbidity in clinical work with adolescents and the development of transdiagnostic preventive interventions for this population.