Depression in children with cancer.
The results of a standardized evaluation of the occurrence of depression in a group of 34 children suffering from cancer are presented. The children (13 male, 21 female) were admitted to the oncological unit of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Graz, Austria, during a 14 months-course (January 1987-March 1988). We rated each child 4 times in 4 weekly intervals after admission and start of induction chemotherapy. To access the occurrence and severity of depression and to monitor progress during treatment we performed a psychiatric interview and also applied the psychiatric rating scale CDRS (Children's Depression Rating Scale) by Poznanski et al 1979 and SCMDD (Self-Report Symptom Checklist for Major Depressive Disorders) by Kashani et al 1985 derived from DSM III. 340 diagnostic ratings were performed by 3 raters; two of them were psychotherapeutically trained pediatricians (M. D., P. J. S.) and one psychologist (L. W.). A "clearcut" depression was found in 25 of the 340 ratings i.e. in 6 of the 34 children, demonstrating that the occurrence of depression in pediatric cancer patients was lower than primarily assumed.
Dunitz
M
M
Psychosomatic Division, University Childrens Hospital, Graz.
Scheer
P J
PJ
Wurst
L
L
Grientschnigg
G
G
Urban
E C
EC
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012803:Sick Role