Anxiety and Withdrawal of Depressed 9-11 Year Olds Three Years Later

Abstract

This study is based on a sample of community-dwelling, depressed schoolchildren and a control group of age-, school-and sex-matched peers. Out of an initial sample of 292 children, 23 were identified as depressed and anxious, of whom 16 (11 boys and five girls) were referred to a psychiatric unit for standard treatment. The ratings of this group were repeated three years later when the children had reached early adolescence. Social withdrawal and anxiety were rated by parents and self-reports as considerably stable phenomena in the depressed group, across time, as compared to the control group. Depressed boys more often than girls rated themselves as being withdrawn and anxious.