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The prevalence of depressive symptoms in college students

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Summary

The prevalence and manifestations of depressive symptomatology in a sample of 424 adolescents, aged 16–19, were assessed by means of the CES-D, a widely used screening instrument. The results were compared to those reported for adults. The pattern of symptoms was also assessed for study subjects who did and did not meet criteria for depressive symptoms. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 33% based on the standard criterion, but fell to 16% and 2% when more stringent criteria for symptom duration were applied. The composition of depressive symptoms was similar for adolescents and adults with some exceptions possibly related to age and role specific demands.

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Wells, V.E., Klerman, G.L. & Deykin, E.Y. The prevalence of depressive symptoms in college students. Soc Psychiatry 22, 20–28 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00583616

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