A psychometric evaluation of the CDRS and MADRS in assessing depressive symptoms in children.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the psychometric properties of the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) in children with major depressive disorder.


METHODS
Children (N = 96; ages 8 to 11 years inclusive) with nonpsychotic major depressive disorder were enrolled. Participants were part of a multisite, outpatient, randomized, placebo-controlled, 9-week trial of fluoxetine (10 mg/day for the first week and 20 mg/day thereafter). The CDRS-R and MADRS were completed based on clinician interviews with both parents and children. Classic test theory and item response theory analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
The MADRS and CDRS-R total scores were correlated at baseline (r = 0.51) and at study exit (r = 0.85). Cronbach's alpha was .86 (CDRS-R) and .82 (MADRS) at exit. The effect sizes for change from baseline to exit between the fluoxetine and placebo groups were 0.78 (CDRS-R) and 0.61 (MADRS). There was agreement between the CDRS-R and MADRS in the declaration of treatment response (50% improvement from baseline to exit) in 84.2% of children. Test information function favored the CDRS-R.


CONCLUSIONS
The CDRS-R showed greater effect size for differentiating drug and placebo and better test information than the MADRS in this study of depressed children.
Jain
Shailesh
S
Drs. Jain, Trivedi, Hughes, Morris, and Emslie are with the Department of Psychiatry and Drs. Carmody and Rush are with the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Dr. Bernstein is with The University of Texas at Arlington.
Carmody
Thomas J
TJ
Drs. Jain, Trivedi, Hughes, Morris, and Emslie are with the Department of Psychiatry and Drs. Carmody and Rush are with the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Dr. Bernstein is with The University of Texas at Arlington.
Trivedi
Madhukar H
MH
Drs. Jain, Trivedi, Hughes, Morris, and Emslie are with the Department of Psychiatry and Drs. Carmody and Rush are with the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Dr. Bernstein is with The University of Texas at Arlington.
Hughes
Carroll
C
Drs. Jain, Trivedi, Hughes, Morris, and Emslie are with the Department of Psychiatry and Drs. Carmody and Rush are with the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Dr. Bernstein is with The University of Texas at Arlington.
Bernstein
Ira H
IH
Drs. Jain, Trivedi, Hughes, Morris, and Emslie are with the Department of Psychiatry and Drs. Carmody and Rush are with the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Dr. Bernstein is with The University of Texas at Arlington.
Morris
David W
DW
Drs. Jain, Trivedi, Hughes, Morris, and Emslie are with the Department of Psychiatry and Drs. Carmody and Rush are with the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Dr. Bernstein is with The University of Texas at Arlington.
Emslie
Graham J
GJ
Drs. Jain, Trivedi, Hughes, Morris, and Emslie are with the Department of Psychiatry and Drs. Carmody and Rush are with the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Dr. Bernstein is with The University of Texas at Arlington.
Rush
A John
AJ
Drs. Jain, Trivedi, Hughes, Morris, and Emslie are with the Department of Psychiatry and Drs. Carmody and Rush are with the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Dr. Bernstein is with The University of Texas at Arlington.. Electronic address: john.rush@utsouthwestern.edu.
D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
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