July 7, 2006 — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in the July 7 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on the significant increase in depression-related hospitalization rates for girls aged 5 to 19 years; a halt in the decline of cigarette-smoking rates among high-school students; and the incidences of felony-related crimes,
intimate-partner violence, and mental health disorders associated with homicides and suicides.
Rate of Hospitalization for Depression Increases Significantly in Young Girls
An analysis of data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey has revealed that the rate of hospitalization for depression among girls aged 5 to 19 years increased by about 81% from 1990-1992 to 2002-2004 (per 100,000 population: 15.4 - 27.8 girls). Moreover, the rate among girls was nearly
twice that for boys (14.5) during 2002-2004.
***
Gee, I wonder what could be causing this?