Abstract

DEL CARMEN OSPINA-OSPINA, Fanny et al. Symptoms of anxiety and depression in adolescents between 10 to 17 year-old attending schools in Chía, Colombia. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.6, pp.908-920. ISSN 0124-0064.

Objective This study was aimed at estimating the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety amongst 10 to 17 year-old adolescents still attending school using the CDI and SCARED questionnaires for early screening in Chía, a town near Bogota, from 2008 to 2010. Method This was a cross-sectional study of prevalence. Results 37 % of the 538 adolescents interviewed had anxiety symptoms, 12.3 % had depression symptoms and 9% presented anxiety and depression symptoms, males having greater prevalence for depression symptoms (6.9 % cf 5.4 % for females) but lacking statistical significance. There was a greater tendency for anxiety symptoms to be found in adolescents attending public schools. Concerning co morbidity, more anxiety symptoms were found in adolescents having depression symptoms. Conclusions It was concluded that anxiety and depression symptoms are real at this age, this being reason enough why it is necessary to suspect and detect them on time so that adolescents can receive suitable attention. Protective factors must be strengthened for this to happen and there must be real awareness by everybody to create educational and health programmes directed towards ensuring good mental health.

Keywords : Anxiety; depression; signs and symptoms; adolescen.

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