Severe and complex youth depression: Clinical and historical features of young people attending a tertiary mood disorders clinic

Abstract

Aim: The concept of severe and complex youth depression has evolved from clinical experience. Here we conducted a file audit study to evaluate supporting data for the construct. Methods: A retrospective file audit was undertaken with 84 consecutively discharged patients over 6-months from Orygen's Youth Mood Clinic (YMC; 50% female). Results: Over a third (36.9%) were disengaged from vocation and education, with exposure to traumatic events common (84.5%). Almost all patients (91.7%) reported past 2-week suicidal ideation at clinic entry. Hospital emergency departments were the most frequent referral source (31.0%). Most (72.6%) had received previous mental health treatment. Multimorbidity w..