Psychometric properties of two adolescent depression scales in a colombian community sample: ADRS and RCADS -major depression

Résumé 0

Depression can occur at all ages; however, when it begins early in life, prognosis is less favorable. Early identification and treatment provision need valid and reliable tools to assess depression in children and adolescents. The present study aimed at analyzing, in a Colombian community sample, the psychometric properties of two brief depression scales, using Classical Test Theory methods: The Adolescent Depression Rating Scale (ADRS) self-report version and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) - Major Depression Subscale. Analyses of both scales showed most item-scale and item-item correlations to be moderate and significant. Internal consistency was significant and adequate for both, ADRS (.67) and RCADS- Major Depression (.71). For ADRS, a two-factor solution explained 37.39% of variance while a one-single factor explained 25.99%. For RCADS-Major Depression, a two-factor solution explained 41.81% of variance while a one-single factor explained 29.14%. Construct validity was satisfactory, as both scales showed moderate and significant correlations with the convergent (RCADS-Generalized Anxiety) and the discriminant (KADS-11) criteria; yet, correlations with the former were stronger. Results provide further evidence in favor of the ADRS and the RCADS-Major Depression as effective tools to assess depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.