Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms in a School Sample of Italian Children and Adolescents

This study reports on self-reported depressive symptoms in a sample of Italian students. Students were assessed with the Children’s Depression Inventory. About 10% of the subjects scored higher than the clinical threshold of 20. More than 1/3 of the students reported thoughts of death, but only 2.2% had explicit suicide ideation. Girls scored higher than boys, & young adolescents (11-13 years) scored lower than pre-pubertal children & older adolescents, & showed fewer thoughts of death. These & further findings are discussed. (35 refs)