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Depression in attention deficit-disordered and normal children and their parents

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Abstract

Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) scores and correlates were examined in 116 ADD and normal children. Results indicated that ADD children and their parents reported higher levels of depression than did their normal counterparts. In normal children, a marginally significant relationship was found between mother's depression and CDI scores. In accord with previous research, no significant relationships were found among IQ, sex, age, or family status and CDI scores. The discussion section within the limitations of the present study, supports the idea of a demoralization syndrome in ADD children and their parents, as discussed by Cantwell and Carlson Although the CDI may be the “best researched” instrument for children's self-reported depression, more systematic research will be needed before adapting the CDI to the clinical setting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emory University School of Medicine Division of Psychiatry, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Butler Street SE, 30335, Atlanta, GA

    Ronald T. Brown PhD

  2. Pepperdine University, Malibu, USA

    Kathi A. Borden PhD

  3. Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, USA

    Stephen R. Clingerman MS

  4. University of Houston, Houston, USA

    Phillip Jenkins BA

Authors
  1. Ronald T. Brown PhD
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  2. Kathi A. Borden PhD
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  3. Stephen R. Clingerman MS
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  4. Phillip Jenkins BA
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Additional information

This research was supported in part by a grant (MH 37-628) awarded to the first author from the National Institute of Mental Health, Pharmacologic and Somatic Treatment Branch.

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Brown, R.T., Borden, K.A., Clingerman, S.R. et al. Depression in attention deficit-disordered and normal children and their parents. Child Psych Hum Dev 18, 119–132 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709726

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709726

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