Thai Adolescent Depression: Recurrence Prevention in Practice

Abstract

This article aims to review the current practice of recurrence prevention and intervention of adolescent depressive disorder in Thailand. In particular, we assess the Clinical Practice Guideline of Major Depressive Disorder for General Practitioners (CPG-MDD-GP) for Thailand, which is now the official guideline for all depressive patients who are children, adolescents, and adults in Thailand. Although this current Thai clinical guideline was developed and derived from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) of the United Kingdom and the recommendations and the practice parameters of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), it differs from these guidelines in a number of ways. Specifically, the main tool for the primary assessment of the Thai CPG-MDD-GP is called 9Q which categorizes the severity and follow-up of depressive symptoms by health care providers in a hospital setting, whereas the NICE guideline for depression in children and adolescents is based mainly on the community setting, and the AACAP parameter assesses patients by a direct interview method. Additionally, the Thai CPG-MDD-GP has no premise intervention for recurrence prevention of depression and lacks details regarding the importance of treatment engagement by family and community.