Correlates and Predictors of Chronicity among Adolescents Living in Puerto Rico With a History of Depressive Symptoms

Chronic depression (CD) among Hispanic/Latina(o) youths has been understudied, although chronicity is the biggest risk factor for treatment-resistant depression. We examined CD correlates and predictors among 291 youths (aged 12–18 years) living in Puerto Rico with a history of depressive symptoms. They completed the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), the Depressive Symptoms Spectrum Assessment Inventory (DSSAI), and the Brief Structured Diagnostic Measure for Depression. We explored CD correlates using Odds Ratios adjusted for CDI-Total scores. With multiple logistic regression, we identified optimal predictors of a history of chronic depressive symptoms (HCDS) or any chronic depressive disorder (HACDD). Living zone (rural), history of depressive disorder, household size (< 4), age of onset of symptoms (< 13 years), death/suicidal thoughts at the first episode, antidepressants use, and scores ≥ 84 th percentile in the DSSAI-Anhedonia subscale, accounted for 37% of HCDS variance. The latter five variables and socioeconomic status (lower-middle/low) best distinguished HACDD and episodic disorders ( R 2 = .331). Identifying factors that distinguish chronic and episodic depression among Hispanic/Latina(o) youths may help to improve their diagnosis, access to and quality of care, as well as treatment selection, tailoring, and outcomes.