But are they cases? Validity of DSM-III major depression in children identified in a family study

Abstract

The authors examine the validity of the diagnosis of major depression in nine children and adolescents assessed as part of a study of offspring of parents who had affective disorders. The authors conclude that these nine children were suffering from valid cases of affective disorder because disruptions in multiple domains of functioning accompanied the major depression. The seriousness of the impairment and the finding that few of these children received any treatment at all strongly suggest the need for a heightened awareness among clinicians about the seriousness of depression in children whose parents have affective disorders.