Differentiating Depression in Medically Ill Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Abstract The overlap between ratings of functional impairment and depressive symptomatology in children and adolescents with cancer was examined. Twenty-four pediatric oncology patients referred for psychiatric consultation were assessed on the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R), a Global Rating of Depression, and the Pediatric Performance Scale (PPS). Results indicated significant overlap between the severity of depression (CDRS-R total score) and the degree of functional impairment (PPS). Elimination of the CDRS-R items assessing somatic symptoms of depression yielded a scale that was not correlated with functional impairment but was still significantly correlated with clinical judgment of depression severity (Global Rating of Depression).