Children's unique experience of depression: Using a developmental approach to predict variation in symptomatology

Abstract

BackgroundCurrent clinical knowledge suggests that children can have different types of depressive symptoms (irritability and aggression), but presents no theoretical basis for these differences. Using a developmental approach, the present study sought to test the relationship between developmental level (mental age) and expression of depressive symptoms. The primary hypothesis was that as children's mental age increased, so would the number of internalizing symptoms present.MethodsParticipants were 252 psychiatric inpatients aged 4 to 16 with a diagnosed depressive disorder. All children were diagnosed by trained clinicians using DSM criteria. Patients were predominantly male (61%) with varied ethnic backgrounds (Caucasian 54%; African American 22%; Hispanic 19%; Other 5%). Children were given an IQ test (KBIT or WISC) while within the hospital. Mental age was calculated by using the child's IQ score and chronological age. Four trained raters reviewed children's records for depressive symptoms as defined by the DSM-IV TR. Additionally, a ratio score was calculated to indicate the number of internalizing symptoms to total symptoms.ResultsMental age positively correlated (r = .51) with an internalizing total symptom ratio score and delineated between several individual symptoms. Mental age also predicted comorbidity with anxiety and conduct disorders. Children of a low mental age were more likely to be comorbid with conduct disorders, whereas children with a higher mental age presented more often with anxiety disorders. Gender was independently related to depressive symptoms, but minority status interacted with mental age.ConclusionThe results of this study indicate that a developmental approach is useful in understanding children's depressive symptoms and has implications for both diagnosis and treatment of depression. If children experience depression differently, it follows that treatment options may also differ from that which is effective in adults.

Sensation seeking as risk factor for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adolescence

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Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health – development of a new open-access journal

“…Since the beginning of 2008, CAPMH registered approximately 5,000 accesses per month. Among the highly accessed articles, there were the papers by Basker et al from India [ 1 ], more than 5,000 accesses), by Ginicola from the U.S. [ 2 ], more than 2,600 accesses), and by Hammerlynck et al from the Netherlands [ 3 ], more than 2,600 accesses), thus indicating the international scope of CAPMH. Our editorial team is especially committed to providing a broad, worldwide perspective on child and adolescent mental health by encouraging and facilitating submissions from a geographically and culturally diverse pool of contributors.…”