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Depression among Swedish adolescents measured by the self rating scale Center for Epidemiology Studies - Depression Child (CES-DC)

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Abstract

The self-report questionnaire Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Child (CESDC) was used for screening depression in Swedish 16–17 year olds during their first year in high school. Completed questionnaires were produced by 2272 students (92% of the population). The mean score was 13.2 (boys 9.9; girls 16.5). Factor analysis gave the same factors for boys and girls with a strong main factor for depressed mood. High scores of 30 or above were found in 240 cases (10.3%). Of those, 204 (85%) and the same number of controls with low scores were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA-R-A). Depressive diagnosis during the last year was confirmed in 71% of high scorers and 15% of low scorers. Beck's depression inventory with cut off at score 16 was used in the same material with equal result. Used with high cut off scores the CES-DC was specific enough for discovering depressive disorder.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital, S-750 17, Uppsala, Sweden

    G. Olsson & A. -L. von Knotting

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  1. G. Olsson
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  2. A. -L. von Knotting
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Olsson, G., von Knotting, A.L. Depression among Swedish adolescents measured by the self rating scale Center for Epidemiology Studies - Depression Child (CES-DC). European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 6, 81–87 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00566670

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00566670

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