Past Issues

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) among young female students in one vocational school in Taiwan. Methods: All of the 379 college students in their first year at one school were recruited in September 2003. The students completed Chinese versions of the self-rated Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve (Family APGAR). Results: CMDwas diagnosed in 145 students (38.9%), who were further classified into one of three major groups based on diagnosis of: mixed anxiety-depressive disorder (MAD) (n=52, 13.9%); depressive disorder (n=17, 4.6%); or, anxiety disorder (n=76, 20.4%). Suicidal ideation was identified in 2.4% (n=9) of the sample population, and this rate was significantly higher in the CMD group compared to the non-CMD analog. Conclusions: The prevalence of CMD in our young female students was similar to western reports, with affected individuals at increased risk of suicidal ideation.