Detection of risk for future depression among adolescents: Stakeholder views of acceptability and feasibility in the United Kingdom

Authors

Abigail Burgess, King's College London, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK.
Syed Shabab Wahid, Division of Global Mental Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Katherine Ottman, Division of Global Mental Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Christian Kieling, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Valeria Mondelli, King's College London, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK.
Brandon A. Kohrt, Division of Global Mental Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Helen L. Fisher, King's College London, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-1-2022

Journal

Early intervention in psychiatry

DOI

10.1111/eip.13278

Keywords

adolescent; depression; mass screening; qualitative research; risk

Abstract

AIM: Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses globally and a leading cause of disability. It is often established by late adolescence and thus identifying which adolescents are most at risk is crucial to enable early intervention to prevent depression onset. We have previously developed a risk calculator to stratify which adolescents are at high risk of developing depression and in this study explore the views of stakeholders to ascertain the acceptability and feasibility of implementing such a tool in the UK. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 UK-based stakeholders (12 healthcare workers, 12 social workers, 12 school workers, 12 policymakers and 12 parents). Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed drawing on framework analysis techniques in NVivo 12. RESULTS: Six overarching themes were identified: facilitators of acceptability; barriers to acceptability; role of stakeholders in implementing risk screening; feasibility of delivering the risk calculator in practice; barriers to implementation; and policy and system implications of using it in the current UK health and social care climate. The implementation of a depression risk calculator in the UK was seen as largely acceptable and feasible by most respondents. There was a strong emphasis on the utility of schools to implement this risk calculator, although it was recognized that training and support would be essential. CONCLUSIONS: Stakeholders were generally positive about utilizing a tool to screen for risk of future depression among adolescents in the UK but raised important concerns which should be taken into account before implementation.

APA Citation

Burgess, Abigail; Wahid, Syed Shabab; Ottman, Katherine; Kieling, Christian; Mondelli, Valeria; Kohrt, Brandon A.; and Fisher, Helen L., "Detection of risk for future depression among adolescents: Stakeholder views of acceptability and feasibility in the United Kingdom" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 356.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/356

Department

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences