The Evaluation of Psychiatric Symptoms with SCL-90-R in Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Adolescents sometimes develop some psychological problems that may escape their or parents' notice, which can lead to problems in later life. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of unidentified psychiatric symptoms in adolescents. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 620 adolescents between 14-18 years of age. Participants were given a sociodemographic data form and Symptom Check List (SCL- 90-R) screening test consisting of 90 items about psychiatric symptoms and complaints. Results: In evaluation of the SCL-90-R subscale, scores of the participating adolescents were found to be >1 regarding somatization (40.5%), anxiety (32.4%), obsessive compulsive disorder (45.5%), depression (34.8%), sensitivity in interpersonal relations (37.7%), psychotic symptoms (20.3%), paranoid thought (35.5%), anger (43.7%), and phobic (17.3%) which interpreted as indication of important psychological problems. Median scores of somatization, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, interpersonal sensitivity, anger, paranoid thought, phobic anxiety, additional score and general symptom index were found to be significantly higher in females (p<0.05). It was found that factors such as school success, cigarette use, mothers' employment, family income level, parents' marital status, and family history of psychiatric illness had significant effect on certain psychiatric symptoms. Conclusion: Previously unidentified psychiatric symptoms among adolescents, especially among females were observed. Despite the participating adolescents expressed no psychiatric complaints, the findings suggest psychiatric symptoms can easily be overlooked in this age group.