A COMPARISON OF SYMPTOMATOLOGY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

Objective:

Comparison of the distribution, frequency and severity of symptomatology in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) was aimed in this study.

Method:

Eighty-eight patients (58 adolescents, 30 children) who were admitted our child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient unit with major depressive disorder according to the criteria of DSM IV, and scored 19 and over in Child Depression Inventory were included in study. The distribution of symptomatology was investigated by using WASH-U-KSADS (Washington University at St. Louis- Kiddie and Young Adult Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia- Present State and Lifetime- 1996 for DSM IV), a semi structured clinical schedule, in each of 88 patients who were included in study.

Results:

While the hopelessness, sadness, lack of interest, anhedonia, social withdrawal, fatigue, suicidal ideas and suicidal attempts were found more frequent and severe among adolescents, separation anxiety was more frequent among children. Crying, sleep disturbance and somatic complaints were more frequent in female group. Anorexia and suicide attempts were more frequent among female adolescents than male ones.

Conclusions:

This study establishes that basic symptomatology does not vary among children and adolescents with major depressive disorder. On the other hand frequency and severity in symptomatology has some important differences based on age and sex. The ability to determine these differences may improve the diagnosis and treatment approaches to child and adolescent depression.