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Prevalence of major depression in preschool children

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Abstract

The prevalence of preschool major depressive disorder (MDD) was studied in the community. The whole population of children between 3 and 6 years attending preschool nurseries in three areas (one urban, one rural and one suburban) in Spain (n = 1,427) were contacted. Selection was by a two-stage procedure. At stage I, the ESDM 3-6, a screening measure for preschool depression, was used to identify a sample for more intensive interviewing. Sensitivity and specificity of the cut-off point of the ESDM 3–6 had been previously tested in a pilot study (n = 229). During the first stage, 222 preschool children (15.6%) were found to be probable depressives, because they scored 27 or more, the cut-off used. At stage II, the children were interviewed and diagnosed by the consensus of two clinicians, blind to the ESDM 3-6 results. DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were used to define caseness. A total of 16 children (1.12%) met the MDD criteria. The prevalence by areas was urban 0.87%, rural 0.88%, suburban 1.43%. Sex distribution prevalence was 1:1. This study is a contribution to the scarce epidemiology of preschool depression in the community.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by Fondos de Investigación Sanitari.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Psychopathology Research Unit, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus de Bellaterra, Edifici B, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193, Barcelona, Spain

    Edelmira Domènech-Llaberia, Esther Pla, Maria Claustre Jané & Mercè Mitjavila

  2. Psychology Faculty, Universitat de Girona, 17071, Girona, Spain

    Ferran Viñas

  3. Economics Department, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Campus Bellissens, Av. Universitat 1, 43204, Reus, Spain

    Teresa Corbella

  4. Psychology Department, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Campus Sescelades, Ctra. Valls S/N, 43007, Tarragona, Spain

    Josefa Canals

Authors
  1. Edelmira Domènech-Llaberia
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  2. Ferran Viñas
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  3. Esther Pla
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  4. Maria Claustre Jané
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  5. Mercè Mitjavila
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  6. Teresa Corbella
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  7. Josefa Canals
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Correspondence to Edelmira Domènech-Llaberia.

Appendix: Scale of preschool depression for teachers (ESDM 3-6) (Domènech-Llaberia 1996)

Appendix: Scale of preschool depression for teachers (ESDM 3-6) (Domènech-Llaberia 1996)

No.

During recent weeks this child has

Almost always

Sometimes

Almost never

1

Had a sad expression

   

2

Grumbled

   

3

Talked and been friendly with his/her school fellows

   

4

Done his/her school tasks well

   

5

Laughed or smiled

   

6

Seemed tired

   

7

Cried

   

8

Said that his/her legs, stomach and/or head ached

   

9

Been happy

   

10

Liked coming to school

   

11

Referred to death (verbally or in pictures)

   

12

Been bored

   

13

Liked active games and sport

   

14

Looked pale

   

15

Played with his/her school fellows

   

16

Been slow in whatever she/he did (routines and tasks)

   

17

Seemed in bad mood

   

18

Joined in class activities

   

19

Liked going outside to play

   

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Domènech-Llaberia, E., Viñas, F., Pla, E. et al. Prevalence of major depression in preschool children. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 18, 597–604 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-009-0019-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-009-0019-6

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