Journal article
Distress and disability in young adults presenting to clinical services with mood disorders
International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, Vol.1(23)
2013
Abstract
Background Distress and/or dysfunction are well established as key reasons for help-seeking. We explore the characteristics of groups defined by high or low distress or disability in young people with unipolar depression (UP) or bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: Individuals aged 12 to 25 years presenting to youth mental health services for the first time with a primary diagnosis of UP or BD were assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (Kessler-10) and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). Four groups with high or low distress or impairment were defined (according to scores above or below the group medians for the Kessler-10 and WSAS). Multinomial logistic regression (MNLR) was used to examine how cases with high levels of distress and disability (reference group) differed from the other three groups. Results and discussion: The sample comprised 1,746 cases (90% UP, 56% female) with a median age of 17.5 years. Median scores on the Kessler-10 and WSAS were both high (30 and 20, respectively) and were significantly inter-correlated (r = 0.62); the high impairment/distress group was the largest sub-group (39% of cases). The MNLR analysis demonstrated that younger age was associated with lower impairment groups (irrespective of distress level), whilst male gender was associated with lower distress (irrespective of impairment). Compared to the low impairment/distress cases, the high impairment/distress group was significantly more likely to use cannabis and/or alcohol. Age, substance use and possibly gender are probably better predictors of distress/impairment sub-group than mood disorder sub-type in youth.
Details
- Title
- Distress and disability in young adults presenting to clinical services with mood disorders
- Authors
- E M Scott (Author) - University of SydneyDaniel F Hermens (Author) - University of SydneyS L Naismith (Author) - University of SydneyA J Guastella (Author) - University of SydneyD White (Author) - University of SydneyB G Whitwell (Author) - University of SydneyJim Lagopoulos (Author) - University of SydneyJan Scott (Author) - Newcastle University, United KingdomI B Hickie (Author) - University of Sydney
- Publication details
- International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, Vol.1(23)
- Publisher
- SpringerOpen
- Date published
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.1186/2194-7511-1-23
- ISSN
- 2194-7511; 2194-7511
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2013 Scott et al.; licensee Springer. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449254302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
- Research Statement
- false
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- Psychiatry
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