Screening Adolescents with Mental Retardation for Depression

This study investigated the reliability and validity of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) using 27 adolescents with mild mental retardation attending schools in a large metropolitan area. Cronbach's alpha was 0.79 and the test/retest correlation was 0,90 at 10 days to 2 weeks, indicating adequate reliability. Scores on the self-report CDI were compared with scores on an observer-completed inventory of psychopathology filled out by teachers and other staff, the Reiss Scales for Children's Dual Diagnosis. For female students, statistically significant negative associations were found between scores on the CDI and scores on the Reiss Scales and its depression subscale. Screening adolescents with mental retardation for depression should be an important part of Individualized Educational Plans for school nurses. School staff report should not be the only method of screening for depression in adolescents with mild mental retardation. School nurses may find the CDI useful as a self report screening tool for depression.