Featured Research
This page features research conducted by RAND Health research staff that has been published in a scholarly journal.Depression and Role Impairment Among Adolescents in Primary Care Clinics
Asarnow JR, Jaycox LH, Duan N, LaBorde AP, Rea MM, Tang L, Anderson M, Murray P, Landon C, Tang B, Huizar DP, Wells KB. Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 37, No. 6, Dec 2005, pp. 477-483.
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Purpose
To evaluate the association between depression and role impairment in a primary care sample, with and without controlling for the effects of general medical conditions.
Methods
Cross-sectional survey of consecutive primary care patients, ages 13-21 years (n = 3471), drawn from six sites including public health, managed care, and academic health center clinics. We assessed probable depressive disorder, depressive symptoms, and common medical problems using youth self-report on a brief screening questionnaire. Main outcome measures were two indicators of role impairment: (a) decrement in productivity/role activity, defined as not in school or working full time; and (b) low educational attainment, defined as more than 2 years behind in school or = 20 years of age and failed to complete high school.
Results
Adolescents screening positive for probable depressive disorder had elevated rates of productivity/role activity decrements (19% vs. 13%; OR 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-2.06; p < 0.001) and low educational attainment (20% vs. 15%; OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.21-1.78; p < 0.001). Probable depressive disorder made a unique contribution to the prediction of these impairment indicators after adjusting for the effect of having a general medical condition; controlling for depression, the presence of a general medical condition did not contribute to role impairment.
Conclusions
Adolescent primary care patients screening positive for depression are at increased risk for impairment in school/work productivity and educational attainment. These findings emphasize the importance of primary care clinicians’ attention to depression and role limitations.
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