In order to find out whether parents and teachers report depressive
symptoms in children
with self-reported depression and which features are connected with sought
psychiatric care,
a sample of 5682 prepubertal children was assessed with the Children's
Depression Inventory
(CDI), the Rutter A2 scale (RA) and Rutter B2 scale (RB). In stepwise regression
analysis
of parent report, depressed mood, unpopularity, social withdrawal,
disobedience, inattentiveness, and stealing were associated with
high CDI scores. The items of the teacher
report associated with high CDI scores included poor school performance,
restlessness,
somatic complaints, unresponsiveness, being bullied, and absenteeism from
school.
Although the parents and teachers readily saw and reported depressive symptoms
in
children, only for a small minority of children with multiple depressive
symptoms had
psychiatric care been sought or even considered. The symptoms associated
with sought
psychiatric care for depressed children were somatic (soiling, asthma)
and behavioural
(disobedient, restless). The results indicate that a large number of children
with multiple
depressive symptoms are left without necessary psychiatric assessment and
help.