The Children's Depression Inventory as a screen for depression in Thai children

This study examines the utilization of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Thai version, as a screen for depression in Thai children. Subjects which consisted of 139 children aged 10-15 years filled out the CDI and were evaluated with structured psychiatric interview by a child psychiatrist who was blind to the results of the CDI. Children with interview validated depression had significantly elevated CDI scores (mean = 18.5, SD = 6.1) compared with nondepressed children (mean = 9.3, SD = 4.1), P > 10(-6). Furthermore, the CDI scores increased as the severity of depression increased. Using the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve, a cut-point of 15 produced the best overall screening characteristics (sensitivity = 79%, specificity = 91% and accuracy = 87%). The results of this study indicate that the CDI efficiently differentiated depressed from non-depressed children. Since the CDI is an economical, easy to adiminister and readily analyzable instrument, it should be used as a screen for depression and a supplant for clinical evaluation and follow-up in the treatment of depression in children.