Early Diagnosis of Depression Among Young Adults

Topic: Depression Words: 3512 Pages: 10

Alang, S., McAlpine, D., & McCreedy, E. (2020). Selection into mental health services among persons with depression. Psychiatric Services, 71(6), 588-592.

The purpose of this study was to discover sociodemographic and health traits related to depression sufferers’ usage of various mental health services, such as counseling or prescription medication. Understanding the variables that affect treatment selection might enhance accessibility to mental health care and lower unmet need (Alang et al., 2020). The particular kind of mental health treatments that patients with depression receive depends on how they enter therapy as well as on their sociodemographic traits. Adults who experienced severe depressive episodes and were undergoing outpatient mental health treatment made up the analytical sample for the research (Alang et al., 2020). The effectiveness of these therapies may be affected by other factors as well. The study’s findings may become beneficial in guiding efforts to eliminate method-specific treatment obstacles, enhance timely access to care, and lessen the unmet demand for mental health care among depression sufferers.

Babajide, A., Ortin, A., Wei, C., Mufson, L., & Duarte, C. S. (2020). Transition cliffs for young adults with anxiety and depression: is integrated mental health care a solution?. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 47(2), 275-292.

Integrating care in primary care settings is a successful paradigm for the treatment of mental diseases, according to studies done on adults and teenagers. This study intends to concentrate on integrated care models particularly created for young people that take into consideration the many demands and problems they confront after giving an outline of the gaps in mental health treatment throughout this developmental age. The authors also take into account the treatment gap for mental disorders in children. Despite the high numbers of depression and anxiety disorders, young people are less likely than both young and elderly individuals to obtain mental health care (Babajide et al., 2020). The authors’ conclusions are predicated on the idea that there are several explanations for the mental health treatment gap, ranging from systemic concerns to individual characteristics that must be considered.

Breedvelt, J. J. F., Kandola, A., Kousoulis, A. A., Brouwer, M. E., Karyotaki, E., Bockting, C. L. H., & Cuijpers, P. (2018). What are the effects of preventative interventions on the major depressive disorder (MDD) in young adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Affective Disorders, 239, 18-29.

This study’s authors made an effort to comprehensively assess the efficacy of initiatives designed to lessen depression symptoms or identify depression in young people. The significance of the research is enhanced because such an evaluation has never been done. The study’s authors used a number of databases to systematically search for information. The study compared an intervention for young individuals without a diagnosis or history of depression using a random-effects meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Investigations on the impact of treatments on the prevalence of depression have proven impossible, although there is some data to support the usefulness of preventative interventions in easing young people’s depressive symptoms (Breedvelt et al., 2018). According to research, there are therapies that can help those with depression who are experiencing subthreshold symptoms.

Briley, P. M., Gerlach, H., & Jacobs, M. M. (2021). Relationships between stuttering, depression, and suicidal ideation in young adults: Accounting for gender differences. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 67, 105820.

This study looked at time, sex, and health-related variables to examine the connection between depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, and living with stuttering. Regression analysis, propensity score matching, and structural equation modeling were the methods employed in this study. Both men and women reported substantially more depressive symptoms than their fleeing counterparts (Briley et al., 2021). According to this study, although depressive symptoms in male stutterers remained steady with time, they grew worse with age in female stutterers (Briley et al., 2021). Guys who stammer were much more likely to report having suicidal thoughts than men who do not stutter (Briley et al., 2021). This research is significant because it demonstrates the necessity for speech therapists to be knowledgeable of the connection between stuttering and depressive symptoms, as well as the elevated risk of suicidal ideation in males who stammer. Clinicians should be conversant with the procedures to use when necessary and should be aware of the signs of depression and suicidal ideation.

Choi, Y., Choi, S. H., Yun, J. Y., Lim, J. A., Kwon, Y., Lee, H. Y., & Jang, J. H. (2019). The relationship between levels of self-esteem and the development of depression in young adults with mild depressive symptoms. Medicine, 98(42).

In order to ascertain if a young adult’s degree of self-esteem is a risk factor for depression, the current study looked at the association between depression and self-esteem. The study evaluated personality qualities as well as levels of clinical symptoms, self-esteem, resilience, social support, and quality of life. In comparison to the group with severe depressive disorders and the control group with high self-esteem, the group with mild depressive symptoms and high self-esteem reported the lowest levels of social support, resilience, compliance, and extraversion (Choi et al., 2021). In contrast, there was no difference in social support, resilience, accommodatingness, or openness among the group of people with mild depression symptoms and poor self-esteem (Choi et al., 2021). The study’s findings suggest that early treatment for young individuals with depression should focus on boosting their social support, resilience, and positive personality attributes.

Dear, B. F., Fogliati, V. J., Fogliati, R., Johnson, B., Boyle, O., Karin, E. & Titov, N. (2018). Treating anxiety and depression in young adults: A randomized controlled trial comparing clinician-guided versus self-guided Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52(7), 668-679.

The authors of this study investigated the possibility of expanding young people’s access to scientifically proven treatments for anxiety and depression using Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy. This study compared the effectiveness of an Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for people aged 18 to 24 when delivered autonomously vs when delivered in a manner guided by a physician (Dear et al., 2018). The authors used a transdiagnostic therapy that concurrently uses cognitive and behavioral abilities to treat anxiety and depression symptoms in order to analyze the outcomes (Mood Mechanics course). As a result, there was a notable improvement in the general psychological state and a considerable decrease in the symptoms of anxiety and despair (Dear et al., 2018). The study’s findings suggest that well-crafted online cognitive behavioral therapy treatments, either self-administered or under a therapist’s supervision, may be effective for young individuals with anxiety and depression.

Jones, A. L., Mor, M. K., Haas, G. L., Gordon, A. J., Cashy, J. P., Schaefer Jr, J. H., & Hausmann, L. R. (2018). The role of primary care experiences in obtaining treatment for depression. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 33(8), 1366-1373.

This cross-sectional study explored whether or whether the positive experiences of patient-centered medical homes affected the later commencement or continuation of depression therapy in a large sample of veterans who had been diagnosed with the disorder. With the introduction of integrated care delivery models, the management of depression in primary care settings has increased, although it is uncertain if obtaining treatment for depression has anything to do with patients’ experiences in patient-centered healthcare settings (Jones et al., 2018). Despite these limitations, the findings show that patient-centered aspects of primary healthcare, such as comprehensiveness, involvement in group decision-making, and support for self-management, are significant predictors of patients’ long-term beginning of treatment for depression (Jones et al., 2018). The consequences of physical and mental health may be impacted by this interaction.

Hill, S. Y., Jones, B. L., & Haas, G. L. (2020). Suicidal ideation and aggression in childhood, genetic variation, and young adult depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 276, 954-962.

Numerous risk variables have been examined in connection to suicidal ideas and actions. The study’s objectives were to ascertain whether levels of aggression in childhood and adolescence or variations in candidate genes that have been linked to suicidal behavior in adults affect the presence of suicidal thoughts in childhood or adolescence, as well as whether these thoughts are linked to depression in young adults. Using survival analysis, the scores on the Child Behavior Checklist Aggression Scale, together with derived subtypes and genetic variants, were utilized as predictors of the occurrence and presence of suicidal ideation in childhood (Hill et al., 2020). Additionally, to assess the relative significance of predictors regulating background variables, authors utilized structural equation models (Hill et al., 2020). According to the study’s findings, depression in young people and suicide ideas in childhood and adolescence are significantly correlated. The study demonstrated the importance of genetic variation and the appearance of more aggressive indications in young children. They may be significant early indicators of suicide ideation.

Melamed, O. C., Walsh, S. D., & Shulman, S. (2021). Smoking behavior and symptoms of depression and anxiety among young adult backpackers: Results from a short longitudinal study. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 62(2), 211-216.

Although there is conflicting data, symptoms of sadness and anxiety can either come on before or after smoking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of this association in a group of young adult travelers who visited a setting where smoking was permitted in public. The authors explored the relationship between smoking and depressive symptoms over time using a quasi-experimental approach for young adults before, during, and after a backpacking trip of at least six months. Smoking was shown to have significantly increased momentarily, which predicted that anxiety and depression symptoms would worsen following the backpacking experience (Melamed et al., 2021). The study’s finding that smoking-friendly social environments encourage young individuals to smoke is significant. This study uncovers some fascinating data, but further long-term studies are required to investigate the impact of smoking on young people’s mental health.

Mętel, D., Arciszewska, A., Daren, A., Frydecka, D., Cechnicki, A., & Gawęda, Ł. (2019). Resilience and cognitive biases mediate the relationship between early exposure to traumatic life events and depressive symptoms in young adults. Journal of Affective Disorders, 254, 26-33.

The study focuses on how early trauma and depressive symptoms in young men and women are mediated by cognitive bias and resilience. Early trauma is a significant risk factor for depression, but little is understood about how traumatic early experiences influence this risk. Through cognitive biases and resilience, a substantial standardized indirect effect of childhood trauma on depression symptoms was discovered in the entire group (Mętel et al., 2019). The gender analysis revealed that the results were the same for both men and women. According to the study, resilience and cognitive biases are both significant but not exclusive reasons underlying the link between childhood traumas and depressive symptoms (Mętel et al., 2019). The standardized direct influence of traumatic life experiences in childhood on depressive symptoms also remained substantial, suggesting that mediation is complimentary.

Mufson, L., Morrison, C., Shea, E., Kluisza, L., Robbins, R., Chen, Y., & Mellins, C. A. (2022). Screening for depression with the PHQ-9 in young adults affected by HIV. Journal of Affective Disorders, 297, 276-282.

This study assesses the precision of the suggested PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 scores, which are frequently used to screen for major depressive disorder in persons who were perinatally HIV-infected but not HIV-positive. Young persons with perinatally acquired HIV frequently experience major depressive illness, although it is frequently misdiagnosed and left untreated (Mufson et al., 2022). The results of the study suggested that using customized cut rates for HIV-affected groups might improve the efficiency of identifying those who have or are at risk for severe depressive disorder (Mufson et al., 2022). The adoption of optimal reduction rates should help at-risk persons in the US and other countries, given the requirement for more stringent depression screening during HIV therapy.

Lampela, P., Tanskanen, A., Lähteenvuo, M., Tiihonen, J., & Taipale, H. (2021). Switches and early discontinuations of antidepressant medication in young adults with depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 295, 1474-1481.

Antidepressant switching and stopping are frequent among young individuals. Antidepressants are crucial in the treatment of depression, and medication modification is a regular practice (Lampela et al., 2021). Receiving therapy for depression is on the rise. In the trial, young Finnish people’s use of antidepressants was transitioned and discontinued. According to the study’s findings, switching was more often when tricyclic antidepressants or polytherapy were used as the first line of treatment and less frequent when serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors were used. The researchers demonstrated that drug misuse, ADHD, and a history of suicidal ideation were all characteristics linked to discontinuation (Lampela et al., 2021). The significance of the study rests in the recommendation that people at higher risk of cessation, such as individuals with a history of drug misuse or suicidal thoughts, should receive extra care.

Lee, J. O., Jones, T. M., Yoon, Y., Hackman, D. A., Yoo, J. P., & Kosterman, R. (2019). Young adult unemployment and later depression and anxiety: does childhood neighborhood matter?. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(1), 30-42.

This study looked at the relationship between early unemployment length and later mental health disorders after adjusting for childhood behavioral and mental health issues. Data from research on developmental outcomes in a Seattle community sample was used by the authors. The study’s findings indicate that, regardless of gender, a young person’s exposure to prolonged unemployment increases their risk of developing mental health issues later in life (Lee et al., 2019). This study is valuable because it emphasizes the need to modify the service profile for young people without jobs. Positive neighbor interaction can serve as adaptable preventative objectives that help halt mental health issues in their infancy.

Li, J., Bornheimer, L. A., Fernandez, L., & Dagher, J. (2021). The relationships between risk-taking, depression, and alcohol use in the experience of suicidal ideation among adults in the general population. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 43(3), 228–235.

The current study examined risk-taking, alcohol consumption, depression, and suicide thoughts in persons between the ages of 18 and 65. Alcohol is an important cause of the greatest pharmaceutical usage in the United States (Li et al., 2021). Although drinking alcohol is linked to higher levels of depression and suicidality, little is known about how drinking alcohol and risk-taking are related, especially in adults (Li et al., 2021). The results of the authors’ research of particular goals using structural equation modeling, which demonstrated strong agreement, suggest a rise in alcohol misuse or dependency, depression, and risk-taking. According to the study, taking risks is a key therapy objective in the fight against suicide. It also emphasized the necessity of conducting a further study in this area.

Lo, C. C., Gerling, H. M., Ash-Houchen, W., & Cheng, T. C. (2021). Violent victimization, stressful events, and depression: a longitudinal study of young adults in the US. Community Mental Health Journal, 57(3), 502-511.

The purpose of this study was to determine if childhood maltreatment or current stressful events have an impact on depression. To test their hypotheses, the authors employed a sample of young people from the United States. The scientists also made an effort to determine if any found relationships between violent victimization or stressful situations and depression would hold true across all ethnic groupings. According to the study, both recent stressful experiences and maltreatment as a child worsened depression (Lo et al., 2021). At the same time, according to the analysis for each ethnic subsample, the study’s findings revealed various patterns in the relationships between victimization and depression (Lo et al., 2021). This demonstrated how race restricts who becomes a victim of child abuse. The study has shown that early trauma, victimization, and stress have a substantial influence on the emergence of adult depression.

Parker, B. L., Achilles, M. R., Subotic-Kerry, M., & O’Dea, B. (2020). Youth StepCare: a pilot study of an online screening and recommendations service for depression and anxiety among youth patients in general practice. BMC Family Practice, 21(1), 1-10.

General Practitioners may use the Youth Step Care program to help them spot the signs of anxiety and sadness in young patients. The program also included two-week symptom monitoring and recommendations for treatments based on scientific data (Parker et al., 2020). In this study, the appropriateness and acceptability of childcare services in Australian general practices were evaluated. The authors of this study carried out a 12-week uncontrolled trial at two clinics for general practitioners (Parker et al., 2020). Using a series of surveys, the feasibility and acceptability of general practitioners and practitioners were evaluated. Because of this, the service was well-received by GPS and practitioners, who said that it was necessary and that they would use it again (Parker et al., 2020). This study demonstrated the value of using youth care services to spot young individuals exhibiting indicators of undiagnosed mental illness and integrating them into routine medical treatment.

Pecina, J., North, F., Williams, M. D., & Angstman, K. B. (2017). Use of an online patient portal in a depression collaborative care management program. Journal of Affective Disorders, 208, 1-5.

The study compared dropout rates and results at six months between patients who utilized the portal with their CCMs and those who did not use the portal for that purpose. It involved patients who were enrolled in a Collaborative Depression Treatment (CCM) program (Pecina et al., 2017). Comparatively to non-portal users, portal users were more likely to be female, younger, and married (Pecina et al., 2017). Remission at six months was considerably greater in the portal group using intention-to-treat analysis. According to the study, using the Depressed CCM Patient Portal offers more chances for patient involvement without having a negative effect on clinical results.

Primack, B. A., Shensa, A., Escobar-Viera, C. G., Barrett, E. L., Sidani, J. E., Colditz, J. B., & James, A. E. (2017). Use of multiple social media platforms and symptoms of depression and anxiety: A nationally representative study among US young adults. Computers in Human Behavior, 69, 1-9.

The study’s objective was to clarify the independent relationship between depression and the use of various social media platforms. The authors’ central claim was that while greater social media use was linked to sadness and anxiety, it was unclear what influence different social media (SM) platforms played independently (Primack et al., 2017). The authors evaluated relationships while accounting for eight factors using ordered logistic regression models. The Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System was used in this study to evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms (PROMIS) (Primack et al., 2017). Participants who utilized social media platforms 7–11 were noticeably more likely to have elevated levels of anxiety and sadness compared to those who used social media platforms 0–2 (Primack et al., 2017). Because of these connections, it may be beneficial for physicians to inquire about the use of various platforms for patients who are depressed or anxious. The study discovered a linear link between depression and the quantity of platforms used.

Sowa, N. A., Jeng, P., Bauer, A. M., Cerimele, J. M., Unützer, J., Bao, Y., & Chwastiak, L. (2018). Psychiatric case review and treatment intensification in collaborative care management for depression in primary care. Psychiatric Services, 69(5), 549-554.

In this study, which was part of a large-scale initiative to provide co-treatment for depression in primary care clinics with social protection, it was investigated if reviewing psychiatric cases was linked to changing the dosage of depression drugs. For all patients and the subset of patients who did not improve after eight weeks of therapy, rates of psychiatric case review and new depression drugs were taken from the registry (Sowa et al., 2018). The risk of starting a new therapy in the next month doubled when a mental health case was taken into account in any given month. A review of psychiatric cases was linked to increased chances of subsequently receiving a new depression medication in the co-treatment program.

Waitzfelder, B., Stewart, C., Coleman, K. J., Rossom, R., Ahmedani, B. K., Beck, A. & Simon, G. E. (2018). Treatment initiation for new episodes of depression in primary care settings. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 33(8), 1283-1291.

The primary care settings have been the focus of recent initiatives to enhance the treatment of depression. There have been reported differences in how depression therapy is started, with fewer minorities and older adults starting treatment (Waitzfelder et al., 2018). This study aims to evaluate patient features related to therapy initiation and choice in patients who have recently been diagnosed with depression in primary care settings. The authors examined information from an electronic medical record using the retrospective observation approach. To identify new bouts of depression, the ICD-9 codes for depression were utilized following a 365-day interval without a diagnosis or course of therapy for the condition (Waitzfelder et al., 2018). On the day of diagnosis, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess the severity of the patient’s depression (Waitzfelder et al., 2018). The study discovered that incorporating depression screening into routine primary care is a step in the right direction for enhancing the early identification, management, and results of depression. However, the study’s findings demonstrate that treatment beginning is still inadequate and that inequalities still exist.

References

Alang, S., McAlpine, D., & McCreedy, E. (2020). Selection into mental health services among persons with depression. Psychiatric Services, 71(6), 588-592.

Breedvelt, J. J. F., Kandola, A., Kousoulis, A. A., Brouwer, M. E., Karyotaki, E., Bockting, C. L. H., & Cuijpers, P. (2018). What are the effects of preventative interventions on major depressive disorder (MDD) in young adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Affective Disorders, 239, 18-29.

Dear, B. F., Fogliati, V. J., Fogliati, R., Johnson, B., Boyle, O., Karin, E. & Titov, N. (2018). Treating anxiety and depression in young adults: A randomized controlled trial comparing clinician-guided versus self-guided Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52(7), 668-679.

Hill, S. Y., Jones, B. L., & Haas, G. L. (2020). Suicidal ideation and aggression in childhood, genetic variation and young adult depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 276, 954-962.

Pecina, J., North, F., Williams, M. D., & Angstman, K. B. (2017). Use of an on-line patient portal in a depression collaborative care management program. Journal of Affective Disorders, 208, 1-5.