Depression in diagnostic subtypes of delinquent boys

Abstract

Eighteen percent of the 120 delinquent boys in a training school were found to be depressed when DSM III criteria for Major Depressive Disorder were utilitzed. Contrary to expectations, the prevalence of depression was not significantly more frequent among socialized, undersocialized, aggressive or nonaggressive subtypes. A comparison of depressive symptomatology among the depressed and nondepressed delinquents revealed that psychomotor agitation was not significantly different in the two groups. Over one-third of all parents were depressed and the authors suggest that this could be a contributory factor in the development of delinquency.