title: Depressive disorders among children in the transforming China: an epidemiological survey of prevalence, correlates, and service use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, no one-phase survey of childhood depression has been performed in China that involves both urban and rural community children. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, correlates, and mental health service utilization of depressive disorders (DDs) in a community-based sample of 6-14-year-old children in south-central China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children (3,582) were approached through multistage sampling and interviewed using a Chinese version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents 5.0, which is a structured interview that is administered by trained psychiatrists to obtain information from children and their guardians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of all current DDs was found to be 2.8% (95%CI: 1.5-3.9). The risk factors for depression included being 9-14-year old, not attending school, having unmarried parents, living in a non-nuclear family (single parent or parentless family), being taken care of by people other than two parents (single parent, grandparent(s), other relatives, or others) during the past year, and not being breastfed prior to 1 year of age. Only 5.8% of the depressed children had received professional help prior to the interview.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of DDs among children in this part of China is relatively high compared with most figures reported in other countries. Depression in this age group has been a major public health concern, but it is often underrecognized. There is an urgent need to develop efficacious interventions aimed at the prevention and early recognition of childhood depression.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Bao-liang
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Hong-hui
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Han-ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: An-qi
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guang-zong
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jia-sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Dong-quen
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wu-fu
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Mei-jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tian-ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiao-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tang-qun
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.forename: Gang-ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jian-fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong-jie
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun-hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: children; correlate; depression; prevalence; service