Depressive symptoms in Swedish adolescents: normative data using the Birleson Depression Self-Rating Scale (DSRS)

This study examined the prevalence of self-reported depressive symptoms in a Swedish urban school sample (n = 524) aged 13-18 years using the Birleson Depression Self-Rating Scale (DSRS). Normative data are presented. The DSRS had high internal consistency. Factor analysis showed one single factor comprising almost exactly the same items that had been found to best reflect depressive phenomena in a previous clinical study. Items particularly endorsed by high scoring adolescents (above the 95th percentile) indicated a symptom constellation with 'endogenous' features. The frequencies of reported suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were 4% and 5%, respectively. Female gender and suicide attempt, but not age were associated with higher scores on the DSRS. Our results-indicate that, despite its shortcomings, the DSRS is a reliable and valid measure of depression in adolescence.