Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Depressive symptoms among adolescents and older adults in Mexico City

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Determine the structure of depressive symptoms among adolescents and older adults through the person-centered approach of latent class analysis (LCA).

Methods

The study is based on data from two independent samples collected in Mexico City (2,444 adolescents and 2,223 older adults) which included the revised version of the CES-D. The presence or absence of depressed mood (dysphoria), diminished pleasure (anhedonia), drastic change in weight, sleep problems, thinking and concentration difficulties, excessive or inappropriate guilt, fatigue, psychomotor agitation/retardation, and suicide ideation were used in LCA to determine the structure of depressive symptoms for adolescents and older adults.

Results

Adolescents reported higher excessive or inappropriate guilt compared to older adults, while older adults had higher proportions of anhedonia, sleep problems, fatigue, and psychomotor agitation/retardation. Similar proportions were found in other symptoms. The LCA analysis showed the best fit with four latent classes (LC): LC 1, “symptoms suggestive of major depressive episode (MDE)” with prevalence of 5.9 % (n = 144) and 10.3 % (n = 230) among adolescents and older adults, respectively; LC 2, “probable MDE symptoms” 18.2 % (n = 446) and 23.0 % (n = 512); LC 3, “possible MDE” 27.7 % (n = 676) and 21.8 % (n = 485); LC 4, “without significant depressive symptoms” 48.2 % (n = 1,178) and 44.8 % (n = 996). The differences in item thresholds between the two groups (adolescents vs. older adults) were statistically significant (Wald test = 255.684, df = 1, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study documented important similarities and differences in the structure of depressive symptoms between adolescents and older adults that merit acknowledgment, further study, and consideration of their potential clinical and public health implications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2013) The global burden of disease: generating evidence. Guiding policy. IHME, Seattle

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mather C, Loncar D (2006) Projections of global mortality and burden of disease from 2002 to 2030. PLoS Med 3:e442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Lebowitz BD, Pearson JL, Schneider LS, Reynolds CF, Alexopoulos GS et al (1997) Diagnosis and treatment of depression in late life: consensus statement update. JAMA 278:1186–1190

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Spielberger CD, Reheiser E, Ritterbandl M, Brunner T (2003) The nature and measurement of depression. Int J Clin Health Psychol 3:209–234

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kandel D, Davies M (1986) Adult sequelae of adolescent depressive symptoms. Arch Gen Psychiatry 43:255–262

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Nguyen QC, Villaveces A, Marshall SW, Hussey JM, Halpern CT, Poole C (2012) Adolescent expectations of early death predict adult risk behaviors. PLoS One 7:e41905

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Nardi B, Francesconi G, Catena-Dell’osso M, Bellantuono C (2013) Adolescent depression: clinical features and therapeutic strategies. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 17:1546–1551

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Patel V (2013) Why adolescent depression is a global health priority and what we should do about it. J Adolesc Health 52:511–512

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Schuster JP, Manetti A, Aeschimann M, Limosin F (2013) Epidemiology of psychiatric disorders in elderly and their impact on somatic health. Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil 11:181–185

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Boschloo L, van den Brink W, Penninx BW, Wall MM, Hasin DS (2012) Alcohol-use disorder severity predicts first-incidence of depressive disorders. Psychol Med 42:695–703

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Balázs J, Lecrubier Y, Csiszér N, Koszták J, Bitter I (2003) Prevalence and comorbidity of affective disorders in persons making suicide attempts in Hungary: importance of the first depressive episodes and of bipolar II diagnoses. J Affect Disord 76:113–119

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Faulconbridge LF, Berkowitz RI, Wadden TA, Pulcini ME, Treadwell T (2011) Treatment of comorbid obesity and major depressive disorder: a prospective pilot study for their combined treatment. J Obes 2011:870385

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Dell’Osso L, Carmassi C, Carlini M, Rucci P, Torri P et al (2009) Sexual dysfunctions and suicidality in patients with bipolar disorder and unipolar depression. J Sex Med 6:3063–3070

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Soyka M, Zingg C (2010) Association for methodology and documentation in psychiatry profiles predict later risk for criminal behavior and violent crimes in former inpatients with affective disorder. J Forensic Sci 55:655–659

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. American Psychiatric Association (2000) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  16. Birmaher B, Ryan ND, Williamson DE, Brent DA, Kaufman J et al (1996) Childhood and adolescent depression: a review of the past 10 years. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 35:1427–1439

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Garrison CZ, Waller JL, Cuffe SP, McKeown RE, Addy CL, Jackson KL (1997) Incidence of major depressive disorder and dysthymia in young adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36:458–465

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Costello EJ, Mustillo S, Erkanli A, Keeler G, Angold A (2003) Prevalence and development of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. Arch Gen Psychiatry 60:837–844

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Lynch A, Glod CA, Fitzgerald F (2001) Psychopharmacologic treatment of adolescent depression. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 15:41–47

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Fonseca-Pedrero E, Paino M, Lemos-Giráldez S, Muñiz J (2011) Prevalence and characteristics of depressive symptomatology in non-clinical adolescents. Actas Esp Psiquiatr 39:217–225

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Leyva JR, Hernández JA, Nava JG, López GV (2007) Depresión en adolescentes y funcionamiento familiar. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 45:225–232

    Google Scholar 

  22. Beekman A, Copeland J, Prince M (1999) Review of community prevalence of depression in later life. Br J Psychiatry 174:307–311

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Reichert CL, Diogo CL, Vieira JL, Dalacorte RR (2011) Physical activity and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elders from southern Brazil. Rev Bras Psiquiatr 33:165–170

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Wagner F, González-Forteza C, Sánchez-García S, García-Peña C, Gallo J (2012) Enfocando la depresión como problema de salud pública de México. Salud Mental 35:3–11

    Google Scholar 

  25. Berenzon S, Lara MA, Robles R, Medina-Mora ME (2013) Depression: state of the art and the need for public policy and action plans in Mexico. Salud Publica Mex 55:74–80

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. González-Forteza C, Jiménez-Tapia JA, Ramos-Lira L, Wagner FA (2008) Aplicación de la Escala de Depresión del Center of Epidemiological Studies en adolescentes de la Ciudad de México. Salud Publica Mex 50:292–299

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. García-Peña C, Wagner F, Sánchez-Garcia S, Juárez- Cedillo T, Espinel-Bermúdez C, García-Gonzalez JJ, Gallegos-Carrillo K, Franco-Marina F, Gallo JJ (2008) Depressive symptoms among older adults in Mexico City. J Gen Intern Med 23:1973–1980

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Radloff LS (1977) The CES-D scale: a self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl Psychol Measures 1:385–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Eaton W, Muntaner C, Smith C (1998) Revision of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Johns Hopkins University Prevention Center, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  30. Reyes-Ortega M, Soto-Hernández AL, Milla-Kegel JG, García-Ramírez A, Hubard-Vignau L et al (2003) Actualización de la escala de depresión del Centro de Estudios Epidemiológicos (CES-D). Estudio Piloto en una Muestra Geriátrica Mexicana. Salud Ment 26:59–68

    Google Scholar 

  31. Nease D, Malouin J (2003) Depression screening: a practical strategy. J Fam Pract 52:118–126

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Sánchez-García S, Juárez-Cedillo T, García-González JJ, Espinel-Bermúdez C, Gallo JJ et al (2008) Usefulness of two instruments in assessing depression among elderly Mexicans: in population studies and for primary care. Salud Pública Mex 50:447–456

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Muthén LK, Muthén BO (1998–2007) Mplus user’s guide, 5th edn. Muthén & Muthén, Los Angeles

    Google Scholar 

  34. Jung T, Wickrama KAS (2008) An introduction to latent class growth analysis and growth mixture modeling. Soc Personal Psychol Compass 2:302–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Chen LS, Eaton WW, Gallo JJ, Nestadt G, Crum RM (2000) Empirical examination of current depression categories in a population-based study: symptoms, course, and risk factors. Am J Psychiatry 157:573–580

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Akaike H (1987) Factor analysis and the AIC. Psychometrika 52:317–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Schwartz G (1978) Estimating the dimension of a model. Ann Statist 6:461–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Kendzor DE, Caughy MO, Owen MT (2012) Family income trajectory during childhood is associated with adiposity in adolescence: a latent class growth analysis. BMC Public Health 12:611

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Mplus FAQ: How can I estimate a multiple group latent class model (knownclass)? UCLA: Statistical Consulting Group. http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/mplus/faq/mult_grp_lca.htm. Accessed 15 Aug 2013

  40. Geerlings S, Beekman A, Deeg D, Van Tilburg W, Smit J (1999) The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) in a mixed-mode repeated measurements design: sex and age effects in older adults. Int J Meth Psych Res 8:102–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Christensen AI, Ekholm O, Glümer C, JuelK (2013) Effect of survey mode on response patterns: comparison of face-to-face and self-administered modes in health surveys. Eu J Public Health. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckt067

  42. Medina-Mora ME, Borges G, Benjet C, Lara C, Patricia Berglund P (2007) Psychiatric disorders in Mexico: lifetime prevalence in a nationally representative sample. Br J Psychiatry 190:521–528

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Benjet C, Borges G, Medina-Mora ME, Méndez E, Fleiz C, Rojas E, Cruz C (2009) Diferencias de sexo en la prevalencia y severidad de trastornos psiquiátricos en adolescentes de la Ciudad de México. Salud Mental 32:155–163

    Google Scholar 

  44. Slone LB, Norris FH, Murphy AD, Baker CK, Perilla JL et al (2006) Epidemiology of major depression in four cities in Mexico. Depress Anxiety 23:158–167

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Wu LT, Woody GE, Yang C, Pan JJ, Blazer DG (2011) Abuse and dependence on prescription opioids in adults: a mixture categorical and dimensional approach to diagnostic classification. Psychol Med 41:653–664

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Hallquist MN, Pilkonis PA (2012) Refining the phenotype of borderline personality disorder: diagnostic criteria and beyond. Personal Disord 3:228–246

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Eaves LJ, Silberg JL, Hewitt JK, Rutter M, Meyer JM et al (1993) Analyzing twin resemblance in multisymptom data: genetic applications of a latent class model for symptoms of conduct disorder in juvenile boys. Behav Genet 23:5–19

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Yang I, Becker MP (1997) Latent variable modeling of diagnostic accuracy. Biometrics 53:948–958

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Sullivan PF, Kessler RC, Kendler KS (1998) Latent class analysis of lifetime depressive symptoms in the national comorbidity survey. Am J Psychiatry 155:1398–1406

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Anthony JC, Eaton WW, Henderson S (1995) Psychiatric epidemiology. Epidemiol Rev 17:1–8

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project was supported by grants from CONACyT (México) 2002-CO1-6868, 2000-25902, 2004-44915; Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS 2002-382), and NIH-FIRCA FP-0497. Dr. Wagner was funded through grants P60-MD002217 and R24MD002803 from the NIMHD.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad de Investigación Epidemiológica y en Servicios de Salud, Área Envejecimiento, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Avenida Cuauhtémoc No. 330, Edificio CORCE, tercer piso. Col. Doctores. Delegación Cuauhtémoc, 06725, México D.F., México

    Sergio Sánchez-García & Carmen García-Peña

  2. Dirección de Investigaciones Epidemiológicas y Psicosociales, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México Xochimilco 101. Col. Huipulco. Delegación Tlalpan, México D.F., 14370, México

    Catalina González-Forteza & Alberto Jiménez-Tapia

  3. Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Room 792, Hampton House 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MA, 21205, USA

    Joseph J. Gallo

  4. Prevention Sciences Research Center and School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, Portage Avenue Campus, 1st Fl, Baltimore, MA, 21251, USA

    Fernando A. Wagner

Authors
  1. Sergio Sánchez-García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carmen García-Peña
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Catalina González-Forteza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alberto Jiménez-Tapia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Joseph J. Gallo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fernando A. Wagner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sergio Sánchez-García.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sánchez-García, S., García-Peña, C., González-Forteza, C. et al. Depressive symptoms among adolescents and older adults in Mexico City. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 49, 953–960 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0828-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0828-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation