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Development and evaluation of a diagnostic algorithm for depression in childhood

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Abstract

This paper describes the development and validation of a brief questionnaire intended for the rapid assessment of depression in childhood. It is primarily a clinical interview but there is an associated algorithm for the diagnosis of a syndrome of depression. It can equally be used for the clinical diagnosis of a depressive disorder. The current battery includes features representative both of “depressive cognitions” and “endogenous depression”. However, it is less effective in the identification of a syndrome of endogenous depression than depressive cognitions.

Résumé

Ce travail décrit le développement et la calidation d'un bref questionnaire ayant pour but l'évaluation repide de la dépression dans l'enfance. Il est en premier un interview clinique, mais il y a un algorythme associé pour le diagnostic d'un syndrome de dépression. Il peut également être utilisé pour le diagnostic clinique d'un trouble dépressif. La batterie courante comprend des traits représentatifs à la fois des “cognitions dépressives” et de “la dépression endogène”. Cependant, il est moins efficace dans l'identification d'un syndrome de dépression endogène que dans le cas des cognitions dépressives.

Zusammenfassung

Wir stellen die Entwicklung und Validierung eines kurzen Fragebogens vor, der zur raschen Feststellung einer Depression im Kindesalter dienen soll. Es handelt sich primär um ein klinisches Interview, aber es gibt zusätzlich einen Algorithmus für die Diagnosestellung eines depressiven Syndroms. Er kann ebenso für die klinische Diagnose einer depressiven Störung benutzt werden. Die vorliegende Batterie umfaßt Merkmale, die sowohl für “depressive Kognitionen” als auch für die “endogene Depression” repräsentativ sind. Jedoch können erstere hiermit besser identifiziert werden als das Syndrom einer endogenen Depression.

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Kolvin, I., Berney, T.P., Barrett, L.M. et al. Development and evaluation of a diagnostic algorithm for depression in childhood. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 1, 119–129 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02091795

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