To study the mental health profile of adolescent girls age 10-19 years in a tertiary care hospital of southern Rajasthan

Abstract

In India, with over 253 million adolescents, addressing mental health during this phase is critical. This study aims to assess the mental health profile of adolescent girls aged 10-19 years at a tertiary care hospital in southern Rajasthan and compare the prevalence of various mental health disorders between early (10-14 years) and late (15-19 years) adolescence.
Materials and methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the adolescent clinic at RNT Medical College Udaipur, covering January to December 2023. The study included 1,538 adolescent girls, categorized into two groups: early adolescence (n=794) and late adolescence (n=744).
Results: Stress disorders (25%) were the most common, followed by depression (17.4%) and anxiety (16.8%). Stress disorders were more prevalent in early adolescence, while depression and anxiety were more common in late adolescence. Menstrual problems (14.9%) and learning disabilities (13.1%) were notably higher in early adolescence, whereas substance abuse (3.6%) and sexual abuse (3.5%) were more frequently observed in late adolescence. Suicidal tendencies also showed a higher prevalence in late adolescence. Also this study examined the effect of season of the year on depression and other moods. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a combination of biologic and mood disturbances with a seasonal pattern, typically occurring in the autumn and winter with remission in the spring or summer. The results are statistically highly significant (p < 0.001)
Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of adolescent clinics in providing specialized mental health care and addressing developmental and emotional challenges and this research highlights the need for comprehensive mental health services and support systems tailored to the unique needs of adolescents.