Depression depth in self-rating scale CDI in children after the war in Bosnia

The author assesses the depressive symptoms in self-rating depression scale (CDI, Kovacs, 1992) in Bosnian children after the war in the former Yugosl avia in 1996. The scale was administered to 307 average age 12 years old bo ys (n = 147) and girls (n = 160). The screening was realised in the framewo rk of psyche-social program intended on the therapy of post-traumatic stres s diseases in Maglaj. The results showed the mean value of CDI 10.2 (SD = 6.3) with indicated tre nd in the favour of girls (p = 0.07). The author compares the results of Bo snian sample to other findings in children living in peace conditions and f inds no differences between the peace and the post-war state. He discusses the possible causes and he concludes that methods intended directly on the impact of trauma (e.g. Impact of Event Scale) should be favourable used for assessing of post-traumatic stress diseases in children. Different hypothe ses concerning the balance of Bosnian sample and findings in peace conditio ns are considered, e.g. the symptoms denying tendency, the anxiety increase rather than that of depression (what was empirically stated) or the influe nce of good family background and minimal divorce rate.