The changing rate of major depression: cross-national comparisons

Article Abstract:

The incidence of major depression may be increasing among adolescents and young adults. Major depression is a serious psychiatric disorder that has been thought to occur mostly among middle-aged and elderly individuals. A study reviewed the incidence of major depression as found in surveys of 43,000 individuals in seven different birth groups in Asia, the Middle East, North America, the Pacific Rim, Puerto Rico and Western Europe. The incidence of major depression was higher among individuals in the younger birth groups, except among individuals living in Hispanic countries. In these countries, the incidence of depression was approximately the same among individuals born between 1915 and 1935 as among those born later. The increase in the incidence of depression among younger individuals may be caused by a variety of factors including sociological changes and increased exposure to environmental pollutants.

International aspects, Statistics, Young adults, Mental health, Depression, Mental, Depression (Mood disorder)

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Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: policy statement

Article Abstract:

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued a policy statement on routine screening of healthy adolescents for idiopathic scoliosis. Idiopathic scoliosis is sideways curvature of the spine of unknown cause. The USPSTF does not recommend special visits to the doctor by healthy adolescents to be screened for scoliosis. It does recommend that physicians visually examine adolescents' backs during checkups or visits for other reasons. It does not recommend other types of screening such as the forward-bending test. The accuracy and reliability of the screening tests for scoliosis are variable. The sensitivity of physical examination of the back, the main screening test for scoliosis, is between 74% and 100%. The effectiveness of different treatments for scoliosis is also questionable. Some treatments may be more effective than others in stopping progression of the disease.

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Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Article Abstract:

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued a policy statement on routine screening of adolescents for idiopathic scoliosis. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine of 11 degrees or greater. Progression of scoliosis is painless without any symptoms. Physical examination of the back is the main method used to screen for scoliosis. Individuals with an abnormal physical examination are usually referred for an X-ray of the spine. Repeat screening of adolescents for scoliosis may not increase diagnosis of the disease. Delayed diagnosis may not cause any significant increase in suffering or affect the outcome of treatment. Treatments for scoliosis include brace therapy, lateral electrical surface stimulation, exercise therapy and surgery. Treatment may have an adverse effect in patients with only slight curvature of the spine.

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