The assessment of depression in normal adolescents--a comparison study

This pilot study addressed two questions. The first was whether the combination of an observer scale (Hamilton Rating Scale) and a self-rating scale (Carroll Self-Rating Scale, modelled after the Hamilton) can make a valid distinction between the frequency and severity of depressive symptomatology in adolescents not referred for treatment, and psychiatric inpatients. The second was whether Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) could be recognized and diagnosed in "non-patient" adolescents using this interview and rating scale approach. The median Hamilton and Carroll scores of the school students differed significantly from those of the inpatients, though the scores alone did not correspond with the presence or absence of MDD. Only 1 of the 26 (3.8%) tenth grade students interviewed appeared to have MDD, compared with 9 of 33 (27%) adolescent inpatients studied previously with the same methodology. The strength and limitations of this interview and assessment approach are discussed.