Identifying Depressed and Suicidal Adolescents in a Teen Health Clinic

104 adolescents completed the Beck Depression Inventory & the Suicide Probability Scale prior to being seen by a physician at an adolescent health clinic & were categorized according to presenting problem. 59% of the sample were depressed (21% fell within the severe range) & almost 23% of the sample demonstrated significant suicidal probability. Scores on the 2 scales were highly correlated. Suicidal probability was most prevalent in patients presenting with psychological complaints only.