Assessing depression, suicidal behaviors and quality of life in adolescents with chronic illness: the potential role of SDQ-DP scores

ABSTRACT

Adolescents with chronic illnesses face unparalleled challenges. To better understand these challenges and their impact on mental well-being, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Dysregulation Profile (SDQ-DP) was employed as a clinical assessment tool. The primary aim of our cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care center was to assess the prevalence of high SDQ-DP scores and its association with depressive symptoms, suicidal behaviors, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adolescents aged 10–18 years diagnosed with various chronic illnesses. Among the 130 participants, 11.5% exhibited high SDQ-DP scores. Adolescents with high SDQ-DP scores displayed significantly higher rates of depression (aOR 12.37, 95% CI 2.15–71.19), suicidal ideation (aOR 18.68, 95%CI 2.72–128.33), suicidal plan (aOR 23.02, 95%CI 3.48–152.24), suicidal attempt (aOR 25.48, 95%CI 2.83–229.17) and diminished HRQoL (p < 0.001). This study has supported the correlation between high SDQ-DP scores and compromised mental well-being, highlighting the tool’s clinical significance.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• chronic illnesses
• SDQ-DP
• mental well-being
• depressive symptoms
• suicidal behaviors

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the adolescents for their valuable participation in this research study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data is not publicly available due to privacy and ethical restrictions.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Research Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University (No.193/2021).

Informed consent statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Author contributions statement

All authors contributed to the study’s concept and design. PT and NB handled data collection, data analysis, interpretation, and the initial drafting of the manuscript. NL and OL offered critical revisions and finalized the manuscript. All authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University under Grant number [143/2564].

Notes on contributors

Patchara Thitamethee

Patchara Thitamethee, MD, completed his pediatric residency at Chiang Mai University Medical School and is now pursuing a Clinical Fellowship in Pediatric Neonatology.

Orawan Louthrenoo

Orawan Louthrenoo, MD, a professor of Pediatrics at Chiang Mai University Medical School, holds Thai board certifications in Pediatrics and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Narueporn Likhitweerawong

Narueporn Likhitweerawong, MD, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Pediatrics at the same university. She is Thai-board certified in Pediatrics and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Nonglak Boonchooduang

Nonglak Boonchooduang, MD, serves as an associate professor of Pediatrics and assistant dean of human resource development at Chiang Mai University Medical School. She holds Thai board certifications in Pediatrics and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.