First use of the Adolescent Depression Rating Scale (ADRS) in the management of young people with severe acne treated with isotretinoin: A pilot study of an active monitoring of depressive disorders by dermatologists.

BACKGROUND During isotretinoin treatment, special attention is required to detect any symptom or change in mental health. The monitoring is complex among adolescents because of confounding factors such as mood changes associated with adolescence and puberty and a higher psycho-social impairment due to acne itself. OBJECTIVES Our goal was to determine the acceptability of the ADRS (Adolescent Depression Rating Scale) for monitoring symptoms among adolescents before and during isotretinoin treatment in dermatology real-life practice. METHODS A national, multicentric prospective study was performed by a random sample of dermatologists treating adolescents. An algorithm including ADRS score and its changes between consecutive visits was used. At each visit, patients rated the ADRS and dermatologists rated their satisfaction using the algorithm. RESULTS A total of 70 dermatologists have used the algorithm among 283 adolescents receiving isotretinoin during 1227 visits. Among dermatologists, 80.8% were satisfied/very satisfied with the ADRS and 75% outlined the interest of the ADRS to enable to discuss more easily the risk of depression with their patients. Its use in clinical practice was easy/very easy for 82.7%. The acceptability of the ADRS was good for 93.8% of adolescents. CONCLUSIONS The implementation of the ADRS could be valuable in dermatology practice, optimising the monitoring of patients and the good use of isotretinoin.