G. Sepede, F. Gambi, D. De Berardis, C. Brocco, M. Nacci,
D. Campanella, A. Cicconetti,
G. Salini, C. Cotellessa, R.M. Salerno, F.M. Ferro- Vol. 10, September 2004,
Issue 3
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Indice
Il fenomeno della somatizzazione ed il
vissuto depressivo in adolescenza
Somatic complaints and depressive symptoms in adolescence
Objectives
To investigate the prevalence of depressive
symptoms and somatic complaints in adolescence.
Materials and methods
331 students of a Chieti high school, divided by age, gender and residence
area, were evaluated with P.S. Experience Blank Psychosomatic Inventory (PSEB),
a self-reported questionnaire on somatic complaints, and Center for Epidemiological
Studies-Depression (CES-D), a self-report scale designed to measure depressive
symptoms.
Results
19.9% of the sample (n = 66) scored high on the PSEB. PSEB-positive subjects
were mostly females with age < 16 and urban residence. On the CES-D,
scores of females were higher in all subsamples. Furthermore, subjects with
urban residence scored higher than those residing in rural areas, both in
the total sample and in the female and age < 16 subsamples. CES-D
scores among PSEB-positive subjects were significantly higher than PSEB-negative
subjects.
Conclusions
In our survey, almost one fifth of our adolescent sample showed somatic
complaints of probable psychological origin. Somatic complaints are strictly
related to the presence of depressive symptoms. As observed in adults, female
gender and urban residence seem to be relevant risk factors for mood disorders
also in adolescence.