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Originalarbeit

Prevalence and Comorbidities of Adolescent Depression in Germany

An Analysis of Health Insurance Data

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1024/1422-4917/a000199

Objective: Data on the prevalence of depressive disorders in adolescents are scarce. We aimed to examine the administrative prevalence of depressive disorders and related comorbidities in German adolescents. A second objective of was to assess potential regional (East vs. West Germany) differences in depression prevalence. Method: Data of a statutory health insurance company were analysed and outpatients from 12 to 18 years of age with diagnosed depression during a one-year-period (2009) were identified. Results: The population at risk consisted of 140,563 adolescents. Of these, 4,295 (41.2% male; mean age: 15.5 years) had a diagnosis of depression. This equates to a prevalence of 3.1% (females: 3.7%, males: 2.5%). There were no significant differences between East and West Germany. Of all adolescents with depression, 62.5% had at least one comorbid psychiatric diagnosis, with anxiety and emotional disorders (23.7%), somatoform disorders (16.8%), hyperkinetic disorders (16.2%) and posttraumatic stress disorder (10.0%) being most frequently diagnosed. Conclusions: The depression prevalence in this sample was lower than that in studies of clinical samples. There was a marked prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities, especially of internalizing disorders. In adolescents, the risk of depression seems to be comparable in both East and West Germany.


Prävalenz depressiver und komorbider psychiatrischer Störungen bei Jugendlichen in Deutschland: Eine Analyse von Krankenkassendaten

Fragestellung: Zur Prävalenz depressiver Störungen bei Jugendlichen liegen nur wenige Daten vor. Ziel dieser Studie war die Ermittlung der ambulant dokumentierten Prävalenz depressiver Störungen und komorbider psychiatrischer Störungen bei Jugendlichen in Deutschland. Ein weiteres Studienziel war die Frage nach möglichen geographischen Unterschieden hinsichtlich der Prävalenz (West- vs. Ostdeutschland). Methodik: Aus den Versicherten einer gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung (Gmünder ErsatzKasse) wurden Jugendliche im Alter von 12–18 Jahren identifiziert, die in einem 1-Jahres-Zeitraum (2009) ambulant die Diagnose einer Depression erhalten hatten. Ergebnisse: 140.563 Jugendliche bildeten die Population unter Risiko. Hiervon hatten 4.295 (41,2% männlich; Durchschnittsalter 15,5 Jahre) die Diagnose einer Depression. Dies entspricht einer Prävalenz von 3,1% (weibliche Jugendliche: 3,7%; männliche Jugendliche: 2,5%). Hinsichtlich der Prävalenz depressiver Symptome zeigten sich keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen Ost- und Westdeutschland. Von den Jugendlichen mit Depression hatten 62,5% mindestens eine komorbide psychiatrische Diagnose. Angststörungen/emotionale Störungen (23,7%), somatoforme Störungen (16,8%), hyperkinetische Störungen (16,2%) sowie posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen (10,0%) waren hierbei am häufigsten. Schlussfolgerung: Die Prävalenz depressiver Symptome lag in dieser Studie niedriger als in Untersuchungen an klinischen Stichproben. Es zeigte sich eine erhebliche Komorbidität weiterer psychischer Störungen, insbesondere internalisierender Störungsbilder. Zwischen West- und Ostdeutschland scheint es hinsichtlich der Prävalenz depressiver Symptome bei Jugendlichen keinen Unterschied zu geben.

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