The Newcastle Child Depression Project: Diagnosis and Classification of Depression

The study of depression in children is a relatively new field. Although it is progressing rapidly, little is currently known. The validity of diagnostic criteria and how to classify depression in children are areas of particular concern. With regard to the former issue, some argue that childhood depression can be diagnosed with the same used in diagnosing depression in adults. Others argue that this is not possible. With regard to the latter issue, the classification of depression in children is difficult because of the developmental stages that children go through. The Newcastle Depression Project addressed several areas within the study of childhood depression. First, it explored the use of the Standard Psychiatric Interview for diagnosing depression in children. Second, it compared different formulations of depression in children. Third, it explored the extent to which depression in children might be mixed with other disorders. Fourth, it explored issues in classifying depression in children. It was hypothesized that the validity of different diagnostic criteria would vary, with the most useful being based on the clinical interview, and that the proportions of mixed depression would depend on the type of associated disorder. The Child Depression Inventory was used to assess 275 children; 95 of these children were further examined with a structured interview during which the Standard Psychiatric Interview (SPI), Kiddie-SADS (Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia), the Newcastle Instrument, and the Weinberg criteria were used. About 35 percent of the children were diagnosed to have significant depression. It was determined that childhood depression may be missed unless an evaluation of other symptoms, such as neurosis, conduct disorder, and phobic disorder, is conducted as well. Statistical analysis of the validation of diagnoses using the various instruments is discussed as well. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)