ASSESSMENT OF BEHAVIORAL DISTRESS AND DEPRESSION IN A PEDIATRIC POPULATION

Using a multitrait-multimethod approach, measures designed to assess e motional distress in medical populations were compared with depression measures standardized on healthy children. In a hospitalized sample o f children ages 4 to 12 years old, parent ratings of child distress we re compared to nurse ratings and children's responses to a pictorial m easure. An assessment battery was administered to 70 mothers and child ren; 32 nurse ratings were also obtained. Results indicated overlap be tween information obtained from measures of depression and pediatric-s pecific measures of distress. However, the findings provide some evide nce that measures that incorporate the pediatric context in assessment may be more suitable for medically ill children.