Description

The Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children (DSRS) is a self-report tool designed to assess depressive symptoms in children aged 8-14 years. This scale was developed to be easily understood and used by children, providing an effective method for the early detection of signs of depression.

Analysis and Use of Data

The scale consists of 18 questions related to depressive symptoms, such as sadness, feelings of helplessness, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and concentration issues. The data collected using the scale are used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms in children and to identify those who may need further evaluation or treatment.

Purpose

The main goal of the DSRS is to identify depressive symptoms in children, helping health professionals or researchers to detect depression at an early stage. Early detection facilitates decision-making regarding further evaluation or intervention.

Scoring

The scoring of the scale is straightforward, with children responding to each question based on how they have been feeling recently. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms. There are established cut-off scores that help differentiate between mild, moderate, and severe depression.

Bibliography

Birleson, P. (1981). The validity of depressive disorder in childhood and the development of a self-rating scale: A research report. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 22(1), 73-88.

Birleson, P., Hudson, I., Buchanan, D. G., & Wolff, S. (1987). Clinical evaluation of a self-rating scale for depressive disorder in childhood (Depression Self-Rating Scale). Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28(1), 43-60.

Kazdin, A. E. (1990). Depression in children and adolescents. Sage Publications.