NIH Radio
Behaviors May Indicate Risk of Adolescent Depression
Brief Description:
New findings from a study supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse show that girls and boys who exhibit high levels of risky behaviors have similar chances of developing symptoms of depression.
Transcript:
Schmalfeldt: New findings from a study supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse show that girls and boys who exhibit high levels of risky behaviors have similar chances of developing symptoms of depression. Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIDA, talked about the significance of the study.
Volkow: This is very relevant because what it is showing is that engaging in risky behaviors appears to be associated with a higher risk for depression. It follows that if you can do interventions that can prevent adolescents (from) engaging in risky behaviors, you may in fact be preventing depression.
Schmalfeldt: The study also showed that gender differences become apparent with low and moderate levels of risky behaviors with girls being significantly more likely than boys to experience symptoms of depression. The study, which includes data from almost 19-thousand teenagers, was published in the May 15 issue of the Archives of Women's Mental Health. For more information, log on to www.nida.nih.gov. From the National Institutes of Health, I'm Bill Schmalfeldt in Bethesda, Maryland.
About This Audio Report
Date: 5/19/2006
Reporter: Bill Schmalfeldt
Sound Bite: Dr. Nora Volkow
Topic: Depression
Institute(s): NIDA
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