Abstract
Anxiety and mood disorders (AMD) may be more common among adolescents than previously thought, and epidemiological research
would benefit from an easily-administered measure of AMD. We assessed the ability of the GHQ12 to estimate the prevalence
of AMD in a representative sample of Ontario adolescents. Data were based on self-administered questionnaires from 3,311 students
in grades 7 through 12 derived from the 2007 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The GHQ12 showed good ability to
identify probable AMD (AUC = 0.80). A threshold value of 5 appeared optimal, and based on this threshold value, the estimated
prevalence of AMD in Ontario students in grades 7–12 may be 19%. Observations that individuals with a self-reported history
of family disruption, substance use, gambling problems, bullying victimization, and who reported seeking professional help
for a mental health problem were significantly more likely to experience probable AMD provided additional validity.
would benefit from an easily-administered measure of AMD. We assessed the ability of the GHQ12 to estimate the prevalence
of AMD in a representative sample of Ontario adolescents. Data were based on self-administered questionnaires from 3,311 students
in grades 7 through 12 derived from the 2007 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The GHQ12 showed good ability to
identify probable AMD (AUC = 0.80). A threshold value of 5 appeared optimal, and based on this threshold value, the estimated
prevalence of AMD in Ontario students in grades 7–12 may be 19%. Observations that individuals with a self-reported history
of family disruption, substance use, gambling problems, bullying victimization, and who reported seeking professional help
for a mental health problem were significantly more likely to experience probable AMD provided additional validity.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11469-011-9334-5
- Authors
- Robert E. Mann, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Canada M5S 2S1
- Angela Paglia-Boak, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Canada M5S 2S1
- Edward M. Adlaf, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Canada M5S 2S1
- Joseph Beitchman, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Canada M5S 2S1
- David Wolfe, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Canada M5S 2S1
- Christine Wekerle, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Canada M5S 2S1
- Hayley A. Hamilton, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Canada M5S 2S1
- Jürgen Rehm, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Canada M5S 2S1
- Journal International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
- Online ISSN 1557-1882
- Print ISSN 1557-1874