Research tackles teen depression

AT 25, psychologist Mona Taouk vividly remembers the stresses and strains of her adolescence. She is also reminded of them by her brother, who is in that age group.

AT 25, psychologist Mona Taouk vividly remembers the stresses and strains of her adolescence. She is also reminded of them by her brother, who is in that age group.

"I remember what I had to go through, it's so hard," the University of NSW doctoral student says.

"I would never want to be a teenager again. You are not an adult but trying to find your feet. If we can help people get through that period they will be better adjusted adults."

Taouk is the first recipient of the Anika Foundation-Macquarie Group Foundation scholarship in adolescent depression, named for Anika Wignall, who committed suicide in 2004 just before she was due to sit the NSW higher school certificate exams.

Taouk's honours year was devoted to investigating a way to more easily identify adolescent depression. She developed a questionnaire tailored for the 12-20 age group. Now, based at depression research organisation Black Dog Institute, she is preparing to spend the next three years extending and refining that psychometric instrument.

One in five children and adolescents is affected by mental health problems and disorders, according to the institute. Taouk says for all those who are diagnosed with clinical disorders "there are many more adolescents who have depressive or adjustment issues that do not reach clinical levels. (The latter) are the adolescents that can be reached via a screening tool."

Adult questionnaires are used on adolescents, but they are far from ideal. For example, they often include questions about the sex life of the person filling them in or direct questions about suicidal tendencies.

Taouk has in mind a survey of up to 30 questions that can be completed fairly quickly - before the person being surveyed loses concentration - that may reveal which students are having trouble adjusting to the challenges of adolescence.

She says poor concentration is one of three problem areas highlighted in adolescents with depression; another is intense irritability. "Also, there is acting-out behaviour: not following rules, fighting and cheekiness. Sometimes those are indicators of depression."

Ideally, students would complete the questionnaire every year they were in high school. "Sometimes kids will not feel comfortable confiding in a teacher or guidance counsellor about how they feel or they don't know they feel depressed. But in this case, after the survey we could approach them. Overall, if it works the way we hope it should, it will be quite useable in all high schools."