title: The Multidimensional Child and Adolescent Depression Scale: psychometric properties.
abstract: Based on previous factor analyses of child and adolescent depression inventories, the following eight basic dimensions were identified, i.e., Pessimism, Weak Concentration, Sleep Problems, Anhedonia, Fatigue, Loneliness, Low Self-esteem, and Somatic Complaints. Each dimension was assessed by five items, so the Multidimensional Child and Adolescent Depression Scale has 40 brief statements answered on a 3-point intensity scale, i.e., None, Some, and A lot. The eight dimensions have good factorial validity and acceptable to good alpha and test-retest reliability, and good criterion-related validity using three self-report depression scales. The total scale score has from good to high coefficients of reliability and validity. The highest mean scores were on Fatigue and Anhedonia for Kuwaiti boys and girls, respectively, while the Loneliness subscale has the lowest mean score for both sexes. Girls attained significantly higher mean scores than boys for the total score as well as on all dimensions, with the exception of weak concentration. The scale has two compatible Arabic and English versions. It was designed to be useful in defining the profile of children's and adolescents' depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences, Kuwait University, Kaifan. jss@kuc01.kuniv.edu.kw
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abdel-Khalek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires