ABSTRACT
Although there have been no national epidemiological studies focusing specifically on adolescents, numerous small community samples and clinical studies provide estimates of prevalence of depressive disorders among this age group. Nearly one in six children and adolescents admitted to psychiatric hospitals has an intake diagnosis of depressive disorder (Silver, 1988). Community studies indicate lifetime prevalence rates of 10% to 20% of adolescents in the general population (Reynolds, 1992; 1994). There is also evidence that rates of depression among children and adolescents are rising (Klerman, 1988; Klerman & Weissman, 1989). Moreover, depressive disorders rarely occur alone (Angold & Costello, 1993), and comorbidity may exacerbate the severity of both depression and co-occurring mental disorders (Angold & Costello, 2001).
