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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
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Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Published on: January 12, 2019

Motor activity in depressed children.

Eeva T Aronen1, Petteri Simola, Mika Soininen

  • 1Children's Hospital, Helsinki University and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|May 25, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Children with depression exhibit reduced motor activity, particularly during the day. This objectively measured motor retardation correlates with symptom severity and may help identify subtypes of childhood depression.

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Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

Background:

  • Motor retardation is a known symptom in adult depression.
  • Limited research exists on motor activity in children with depression.
  • Childhood depression requires further investigation into its motoric features.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate and compare motor activity in depressed children versus controls.
  • To investigate the link between motor activity and symptom severity in childhood depression.
  • To explore motor activity as a potential biomarker for depression subtypes.

Main Methods:

  • Actigraphy was used to record daytime and nighttime motor activity in 22 depressed children and controls.
  • Depression diagnosis was confirmed using the K-SADS-PL interview.
  • Symptom severity was assessed via the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and Teacher Report Form (TRF).

Main Results:

  • Depressed children showed significantly reduced daytime motor activity compared to controls (p<0.001).
  • Depressed children exhibited increased nighttime immobility (p<0.05).
  • Motor activity correlated negatively with self-reported (r=-0.45) and teacher-reported (r=-0.52) symptom severity.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced motor activity is a significant feature of childhood depression.
  • Objective motor activity measures can differentiate depressed children from peers.
  • Motor retardation severity, especially with suicidal ideation, may aid in classifying depression subtypes.