Prevalence, symptomatology, and risk factors for depression among high school students in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and pattern of depression in a secondary school sample of Saudi Arabia adolescents.

METHODS: Four hundred and ninety secondary school students, comprising 306 males (62.4%) and 184 females (37.6%), in the age group 16-20, were surveyed from January to May, 2005 in Taif, Saudi Arabia, using the Arabic Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) by a team consisting of a psychiatrist and psychologist.

RESULTS: The prevalence of depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory (CBDI) (cut-off point: 19) was 110 (22.4%) for moderate (19-29), 36 (7.3%) for severe (30-40), and 18 (3.7%) as very severe (>40) in this study group, with a clear predominance of prevalence of depression in girls than in boys (1.5 times). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the most significant risk factors involved were: gender, birth order, history of psychiatric illness, history of relative loss, and familial history of chronic diseases. Factor analysis revealed that self-criticalness, agitation, and loss of energy had the highest scores in the total sample. In the male subgroup, loss of energy, self-criticalness, punishment feeling, and agitation had the highest score while in the female subgroup, self-criticalness, agitation, and crying had the highest scores.

CONCLUSION: Our findings provide gender differences in the prevalence and presentation of depressive symptoms. The experience of stressful life events increases the risk of depression. Assessment using screening is recommended. The increased risk for the onset of depression in adolescents reinforces the importance of early recognition and intervention.