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Increasing knowledge about depression in adolescents: effects of an information booklet

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Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluates a newly developed information booklet about depression among adolescents. The aim was to examine the enhancement of knowledge through the booklet with the objective of reducing stigma and facilitating awareness of own treatment needs.

Methods

628 German ninth graders were enrolled in a pre–post-follow-up study using study-specific questionnaires to investigate knowledge enhancement in seven depression-related topics. Exploratively, knowledge enhancement was calculated with respect to education level and gender. Additionally, the students assessed the booklet’s layout, content and utility. Knowledge enhancement was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA for index values of the booklet’s topics. The effect size partial eta square (η²) was computed.

Results

The pre–post-follow-up comparison yielded significant knowledge enhancement for all seven index values (p < 0.001). The associated effect sizes were medium to large. The strongest effects were achieved for the categories “Antidepressants” (η² = 0.56), “Symptoms” (η² = 0.45) and “Treatment” (η² = 0.17) of depression as well as for “Suicidality” (η² = 0.36). Although baseline knowledge was high in all students, knowledge enhancement was greater in better educated than in less educated students. Overall assessment of the booklet was good (mean = 2.15 on a rating scale from “very good” (1) to “fail” (6)).

Conclusions

The information booklet as a low-threshold educational approach can significantly enhance depression-specific knowledge in students. Hence, it helps adolescents to acknowledge their own symptoms and treatment needs as well as to recognize these specific mental health problems in their peers. Thus, the booklet can contribute to the reduction of stigma and treatment barriers in adolescents.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Public Health within the initiative “Gesund.Leben.Bayern.”. We thank Oliver Stumpf for the layout of the booklet “Paul down in the dumps. Understanding depression in adolescents”. We also thank Iris Höppel for her assistance with research logistics and data collection and all participating schools and students as well as their teachers and parents for their support to the study.

Conflict of interest

Funding by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Public Health within the initiative “Gesund.Leben.Bayern.”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Nußbaumstr. 5a, 80336, Munich, Germany

    Yvonne Schiller, Gerd Schulte-Körne, Rima Eberle-Sejari, Benjamin Maier & Antje-Kathrin Allgaier

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  1. Yvonne Schiller
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  2. Gerd Schulte-Körne
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Correspondence to Yvonne Schiller.

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Schiller, Y., Schulte-Körne, G., Eberle-Sejari, R. et al. Increasing knowledge about depression in adolescents: effects of an information booklet. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 49, 51–58 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0706-y

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