Pilot Study of Anxiety and Depression in Prepubertal Children

Abstract

Early detection of anxiety and depression is important because of the relationship between these disorders, suicide and other problems (i.e. social, phobias, learning problems). This study screened prepubertal students in a school setting for symptoms of anxiety and depression using self-report measures (Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale and the Children's Depression Inventory). Controls and children who scored high on measures of anxiety or depression or both were interviewed with their parents and were tested using the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (computer version) and the Peabody Individual Achievement Test. Initial results indicated that anxiety is more prevalent in prepubertal children than depression. The correlation between different diagnostic measurements used in this project was calculated. A correlation was found between low scores of self-esteem and high scores of anxiety and depression on self-reports. It is concluded that self-report measures are good screening tools.