Abstract
This study evaluated commonly used methods of identifying “depressed” children and examined the extent to which the conclusions about correlates of dysfunction vary among different selection criteria. Child psychiatric patients (N=237,ages 7–12) and their parents participated and completed measures to permit identification of “depressed” children on the basis of three separate criteria, including selfreport scores on the Children's Depression Inventory, parent-reported scores for the same measure, and a DSM-III diagnosis of major depression. The study examined whether depressed and nondepressed children, defined separately by the different criteria, differed in a variety of depression-related symptoms, cognitive processes, and social activity. The results indicated little overlap in the persons identified as “depressed” on the basis of child-or parent-completed CDI scores or DSM-III diagnosis. Depressed and nondepressed children tended to differ across all domains (depression-related symptoms, cognitive processes, and social activity) for each selection criterion. However, significant differences were evident in these domains only when the selection criterion and other domains were assessed with the same informant (e.g., self-report) and hence shared a common method (rater) component. The findings underscore the potential influence that method factors may have in influencing the conclusions that are drawn regarding the correlates of childhood depression.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. S. (1983).Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist and Revised Child Behavior Profile. Burlington, VT: University Associates in Psychiatry.
Achenbach, T. M., McConaughy, S. H., & Howell, C. T. (1987). Child/adolescent behavioral and emotional problems: Implications for cross-informant correlations for situational specificity.Psychological Bulletin, 101, 213–232.
Altmann, E. O., & Gotlib, I. H. (1988). The social behavior of depressed children: An observational study.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 16, 29–44.
American Psychiatric Association. (1987).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-revised. Washington, DC: Author.
Bodiford, C. A., Eisenstadt, T. H., Johnson, J. H., & Bradlyn, A. S. (1988). Comparison of learned helpless cognitions and behavior in children with high and low scores on the Children's Depression Inventory.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 17, 152–158.
Carey, M. P., Faulstich, M. E., Gresham, F. M., Ruggiero, L., & Enyart, P. (1987). Children's Depression Inventory: Construct and discriminant validity across clinical and nonreferred (control) populations.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 755–761.
Coopersmith, S. (1967).The antecedents of self-esteem. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman.
Fauber, R., Forehand, R., Long, N., Burke, M., & Faust, J. (1987). The relationship of young adolescent Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) scores to their social and cognitive functioning.Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 9, 161–172.
Hollon, S. P., & Kendall, P. C. (1980). Cognitive self-statements in depression: Development of an automatic thoughts questionnaire.Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4, 383–395.
Kazdin, A. E. (1987). Children's Depression Scale: Validation with child psychiatric inpatients.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28, 29–41.
Kazdin, A. E. (1988). Childhood depression. In E. J. Mash & L. G. Terdal (Eds.),Behavioral assessment of childhood disorders (2nd ed., pp. 157–195). New York: Guilford Press.
Kazdin, A. E., Colbus, D., & Rodgers, A. (1987). Assessment of depression and diagnosis of depressive disorder among psychiatrically disturbed children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28, 29–41.
Kazdin, A. E., Esveldt-Dawson, K., Sherick, R. B., & Colbus, D. (1985). Assessment of overt behavior and childhood depression among psychiatrically disturbed children.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 201–210.
Kazdin, A. E., Esveldt-Dawson, K., Unis, A. S., & Rancurello, M. D. (1983). Child and parent evaluations of depression and aggression in psychiatric inpatient children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11, 401–413.
Kazdin, A. E., French, N. H., Unis, A. S., & Esveldt-Dawson, K. (1983). Assessment of childhood depression: Correspondence of child and parent ratings.Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 22, 157–164.
Kazdin, A. E., Rodgers, A., & Colbus, D. (1986). The Hopelessness Scale for Children: Psychometric characteristics and concurrent validity.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 241–245.
Kovacs, M. (1981). Rating scales to assess depression in school aged children.Acta Paedopsychiatrica, 46, 305–315.
Lang, M., & Tisher, M. (1978).Children's Depression Scale. Victoria, Australia: Australian Council for Educational Research.
Leon, G. R., Kendall, P. C., & Garber, J. (1980). Depression in children: Parent, teacher, and child perspectives.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 8, 221–235.
Lobovits, D. A., & Handal, P. J. (1985). Childhood depression: Prevalence using DSM-III criteria and validity of parent and child depression scales.Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 10, 45–54.
Mitchell, J., McCauley, E., Burke, P. M., & Moss, S. J. (1988). Phenomenology of depression in children and adolescents.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 12–20.
Moretti, M. M., Fine, S., Haley, G., & Marriage, K. (1985). Child and adolescent depression: Child-report versus parent-report information.Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 24, 298–302.
Nelson, W. M., III., Politano, P. M., Finch, A. J., Jr., Wendel, N., & Mayhall, C.(1987). Children's Depression Inventory: Normative data and utility with emotionally disturbed children.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 43–48.
Nowicki, S., & Strickland, B. R. (1973). A locus of control scale for children.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 40, 148–154.
Petti, T. A. (1978). Depression in hospitalized child psychiatry patients: Approaches to measuring depression.Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 22, 11–21.
Reynolds, W. M., Anderson, G., & Bartell, N. (1985). Measuring depression in children: A multi-method assessment investigation.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 13, 513–526.
Rutter, M., Izard, C. E., & Read, P. B. (Eds.). (1986).Depression in young people: Developmental and clinical perspectives. New York: Guilford Press.
Sacco, W. P., & Graves, D. J. (1984). Childhood depression, interpersonal problem-solving, and self-ratings of performance.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 13, 10–15.
Saylor, C. F., Finch, A. J., Jr., Baskin, C. H., Furey, W., & Kelly, M. M. (1984). Construct validity for measures of childhood depression: Application of multitrait-multimethod methodology.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 977–985.
Saylor, C. F., Finch, A. J., Spirito, A., & Bennett, B. (1984). The Children's Depression Inventory: A systematic evaluation of psychometric properties.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 955–967.
Seligman, M. E. P., & Peterson, C. (1986). A learned helplessness perspective on childhood depression: Theory and research. In M. Rutter, C. E. Izard, & P. B. Read (Eds.),Depression in young people: Developmental and clinical perspectives (@#@ pp. 223–249). New York: Guilford Press.
Shoemaker, O. W., Erickson, M. T., & Finch, A. J. Jr. (1986). Depression and anger in third-and fourth-grade boys: A multimethod assessment approach.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 15, 290–296.
Smucker, M. R., Craighead, W. E., Craighead, L. W., & Green, B. J. (1986). Normative and reliability data for the Children's Depression Inventory.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 14, 25–39.
Spitzer, R. L., Endicott, J., & Robins, E. (1978). Research Diagnostic Criteria: Rationale and reliability.Archives of General Psychiatry, 35, 773–782.
Stark, K. D., Reynolds, W. M., & Kaslow, N. (1987). A comparison of the relative efficacy of self-control therapy and a behavioral problem-solving therapy for depression in children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 91–113.
Trad, P. V. (1987).Infant and childhood depression: Developmental factors. New York: Wiley.
Weissman, M. M., Orvaschel, H., & Padian, N. (1980). Children's symptom and social functioning self-report scales: Comparison of mothers' and children's reports.Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 168, 736–740.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Completion of this research was supported by a Research Scientist Development Award (MH00353) and by a grant (MH35408) from the National Institute of Mental Health. The author is grateful to Debra Bass, Antoinette Rodgers, and Todd Siegel for assistance with this project.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kazdin, A.E. Identifying depression in children: A comparison of alternative selection criteria. J Abnorm Child Psychol 17, 437–454 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915037
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915037