DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY IN YOUNG-CHILDREN OF SUBSTANCE-ABUSERS

144 5- to 13-yr.-old children of substance abusers, enrolled in an exp ressive arts therapy program, were tested for depression on the Childr en's Depression Inventory and for anxiety on the Revised Children's Ma nifest Anxiety Scale prior to treatment. Total scores for anxiety were significantly higher for girls than for boys; however, total depressi on scores did not differ between boys and girls. Analysis of subscale scores on each of the tests indicated several sex differences. Age was positively correlated with certain symptoms of depression for boys bu t not for girls. Conversely, age was negatively correlated with certai n symptoms of anxiety for boys but not for girls. When compared to kno wn norms for these assessments, girls scored significantly higher on t otal Depression bur not differently than normals on total Anxiety. Boy s, however, scored significantly lower on total Anxiety but did not sc ore differently than normals on total Depression. We interpreted these findings as indicating that young children of substance abusers may b e at risk for certain symptoms of anxiety and depression following the ir parents' addiction. Also, these symptoms may be manifest differentl y by boys and girls of various ages.