Abstract

SYED, Rebecca J  and  YUNG, Alison R. Research Protocol. A Qualitative Study Investigating Depressive Prodrome in Adolescents. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2006, vol.35, n.3, pp.414-419. ISSN 0034-7450.

Background: Depression is common, disabling and often has its onset in adolescents. Adolescents with depression are at high risk for persistence and recurrence of depression into adulthood. Subthreshold forms of depression in adolescents are also common. Objective: To retrospectively reconstruct the period leading up to the first episode of major depressive disorder (MDD) in a sample of adolescents. It is hypothesized that it is possible to analyse this period in detail and explore all possible symptoms, syndromes and possible risk factors associated with it. Method: To recruit a series of first episode MDD subjects from the Older Adolescent Service (OAS) of ORYGEN Youth Health. Subjects and informants are to be interviewed about the period leading up to the depressive episode using a combination of unstructured and semi-structured techniques. Analysis: Textual data will be explored and categories generated with the aid of the software package N-VIVO. Discussion: The findings could lay the groundwork for the development of quantitative methodologies for assessing and measuring first depressive phenomena. This has the potential to lead to the early recognition and more accurate prediction of subsequent depression.

Keywords : Depression; adolescents; subthreshold depression.

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