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Other studies featured in the August The Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine Theme Issue on Mental Health

PARENT'S MENTAL HEALTH INFLUENCES CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
A study of 822 children aged three to 12 years living with both parents found that "a father in better mental health may buffer the influence of a mother's poorer mental health on a child's behavioral and emotional problems, and these problems seem to be most severe for children who have two parents with poorer mental health."

INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN OF PARENTS WITH HIV KEEPS THEM IN SCHOOL, OFF WELFARE
Researchers followed the progress of 423 adolescents (aged 11 to 21) with a parent with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and who participated in an intervention program designed to improve coping skills. Compared to a control group of adolescents who did not participate in the intervention program, adolescents who did participate in the program were more likely to be employed or in school (82.58 percent vs. 68.94 percent) and were less likely to receive public welfare payments (25.66 percent vs. 36.65 percent).

PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR DEPRESSION AMONG ADOLESCENTS
In a study of 9,863 students in grades six, eight, and ten (average ages 11, 13, and 15), researchers found that 18 percent reported symptoms of depression. More females (25 percent) than males (10 percent) reported depressive symptoms, and prevalence of depressive symptoms increased with age for both males and females. "Among American Indian youths, 29 percent reported depressive symptoms, as compared with 22 percent of Hispanic, 18 percent of white, 17 percent of Asian American, and 15 percent of African American youths," the researchers write.

AGE INFLUENCES LIKELIHOOD THAT ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS WILL CAUSE MANIA
During an average follow up period of 41 weeks, 5.4 percent of mental health users prescribed antidepressants (n=87,920; aged 5 to 29 years) developed symptoms of mania. Children aged 10 to 14 years had the highest rates of conversion to mania, "such that treating as few as 10 children with antidepressant agent could result in at least one conversion event, compared with 23 among 15-to 29-year-olds."

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HELPS REDUCE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS IN ADOLESCENTS
In a study of 1,870 Hispanic and non-Hispanic white adolescents aged 14 to 18 years, researchers found that physical activity (PA) had an inverse effect on feelings of sadness, and that those who participated in PA had a lower risk of considering suicide. "Promotion of PA may be a useful part of intervention programs that include the reinforcement of other protective factors such as efficient social skills or a high self-esteem and aim at improving adolescents' health as a whole," the researchers write.

Editor's Note:Please see The Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine studies for full detailed information on these studies, the researchers, and the funding.