DETECTION OF MAJOR AND MINOR DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS -EVALUATION OF THE MOOD AND FEELINGS QUESTIONNAIRE

The detection of major and minor depression in children and adolescent s was evaluated in an outpatient sample of 113 children employing the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (both child and parent versions) and t he K-SADS interview. Differences between depressed and nondepressed gr oups, those with major or minor depression, and depressed children com pared with those comorbid for anxiety, were examined. Our findings sup port the validity of the MFQ as a screening instrument for major and m inor depression in a population with a high proportion of depressed ca ses. High agreement between parent and child ratings was found, with c ognitive items being the best predictors of depression.