A SIX-YEAR TREND OF YOUTH DEPRESSION IN A HEALTHCARE GROUP IN SINGAPORE
- Author:
Xiao Wei Tan
1
;
Rajagopalan Arvind
1
;
Eng Sing Lee
2
;
Matthias Paul Han Sim To
3
;
Khai Pang Leong
4
;
Phern Chern Tor
5
;
Daniel Shuen Sheng Fung
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: Youth Depression; Incidence of Diagnosis; Age of Diagnosis; Gender Related Depression; Trend Analysis
- From:ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2021;22(8):1-8
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Aim:To examine the trend of youth depression diagnosed in a healthcare group in Singapore over a 6-year period.
Methods:This is a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients who had been diagnosed with depression from Jan 2013 to Dec 2018 in a healthcare group in Singapore. The yearly trend of depression diagnosis among the youths (10-24 years of age) was compared with adults (25-64 years of age) and the elderly (≥ 65 years of age). The mean age at diagnosis, distribution of gender, ethnicity and clinical care settings among the subgroup of youth patients were compared across the years using analysis of variance or Pearson’s chi-square test.
Results:A total of 4701 youths, 15243 adults and 6908 elderly patients were included in the analysis. Between 2013 and 2018, the rise in depression diagnosis in the youth was greater than in the adult and elderly populations, and the mean age at diagnosis decreased from 49.7 ± 0.3 (mean ± SE) years in 2013 to 39.6 ± 0.3 years in 2018. Among the youths, more females had been diagnosed with depression than males and females displayed a larger increase in diagnosis of depression. There was also a larger increase in the diagnosis of depression in primary care compared to emergency departments, outpatient specialist clinics and in-hospital wards.
Conclusion:Youth depression is a major health problem in Singapore. There is a need for the expansion of resources in a variety of avenues for depressed youths to seek help. - Full text:202409131125317257617.2021my0041.pdf
