Screening for depression in hospitalized pediatric patients

In chronically ill children who are hospitalized, many mood changes occur. For example, in children with cancer or renal failure, prolonged hospitalization and chemotherapy can lead to depression. With the improved survival of childhood malignancies, the effect of treatment on child's psychosocial well-being becomes increasingly relevant. In this study, we examined the prevalence of depression in hospitalized children with chronic and acute conditions in Dr Sheikh Pediatrics Hospital in Mashhad.

After receiving the approval from the Ethics Committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, we did this cross-sectional descriptive study, from April to June 2012 in Dr Sheikh Pediatric Hospital in Mashhad. Ninety children, between 8 to 16 years, were screened for depression. The sampling method was census. Children with a history of depressive or other mental disorders were excluded. Three groups of children (children with chronic renal disease, malignancy, and acute disease) were evaluated for depression using standard Children Depression Inventory Questionnaire (CDI). Two specifically trained nurses filled out the questionnaires at patients' bedside under the supervision of a psychiatrist. Depression scores were then analyzed by SPSS software.

Of 90 children, 43(47.7%) were male and 47(52.2%) were female. The Children's mean age was 11±2.3 years, and the mean length of hospitalization was 8±5.3 days. Depression was detected in various degrees in 63% of patients (N=57), and 36.6% of children (N=32) had no symptoms of depression. Severe depression was not seen in any of the patients with acute illness. More than half of patients with cancer and chronic kidney disease had moderate to severe depression. There was a significant statistical relationship between the duration of illness and severity of depression. There was also a significant correlation between severity of depression and frequency of hospitalization. Children who had been hospitalized more than 3 times in the previous year, experienced more severe levels of depression. We also found a significant correlation between pubertal age and severity of depression in patients with cancers and chronic renal failure.

Children who are hospitalized due to chronic conditions are at a higher risk for mood disorders in comparison with the ones with acute conditions. It is therefore advisable to consider more practical plans to improve the care for hospitalized children's mental health.