Development of a Predictive Index for Probable Depression Among Secondary School Students

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
The present study aims to develop a new predictive index to predict future depression of adolescents by using factors including individual, interpersonal and environmental. The index can be used to predict likelihood of students who are non-probable depression cases convert into probable depression cases. In addition, the investigators also test the factors of depression remission. It can hence be used in school setting to identify high-risk students, and provide them with secondary interventions that are designed by considering modifiable significant variables identified in this unique, large-scale, longitudinal study.

Detailed Description
-----------------
A 12-month longitudinal study will be conducted in secondary school settings. The investigators will investigate incidence of probable depression (i.e., from non-depression, CESD<16, at baseline to probable depression, CESD≥16, at month 12) and remission of probable depression. The investigators will investigate factors that can prospectively predict new cases/remission of probable depression, including both well-documented risk/protective factors and some under-examined but potentially important local factors (e.g. school/academic stress, psychological resilience). The relative importance of the risk/protective factors at different socio-ecological levels will be compared and their combined effect will be identified. Based on the selected factors, the investigators will derive a new prediction index called the Adolescent Depression Prediction Index (ADPI) in a model building sample and test its performance in predicting incidence of depression in a validation sample among secondary school students in Hong Kong.

Official Title
-----------------
A Longitudinal Study for Identifying Predictors of Incidence/Remission of Probable Depression and Developing a Predictive Index for Probable Depression Among Secondary School Students

Conditions
-----------------
Depression, Stress, Youth

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Other: Observation


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Secondary 1 (seventh year of formal education) to Secondary 4 Chinese students, who are studying local mainstream schools in Hong Kong. Able to read Chinese and speak either Cantonese or Mandarin. Exclusion Criteria: Eligible students whose parents refuse to give consent to take part in the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 12 Years
Maximum Age: 16 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Non-cases<br>Secondary school students (seventh to tenth years of education) without probable depression at baseline interview. | Other: Observation<br>* The anonymous structured questionnaire will be self-administered by the participating students in the absence of their teachers in class-room settings.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Incidence of probable depression | To examine the incidence of probable depression from non-depression (CESD<16) at baseline to probable depression (CESD>=16) at month 12. | 12 months | 
| Adolescent Depression Prediction Index (ADPI) | To develop a new prediction index ADPI and test test its performance in predicting incidence of depression. | 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Adolescent, Depression, Stress, Resilience