Hopelessness, depression, and suicidal intent among psychiatrically disturbed inpatient children.

Abstract

The present investigation evaluated hopelessness, depression, and suicidal intent among children (8 to 13 years old) hospitalized on a psychiatric intensive care service. A hopelessness scale, modeled after the adult version, was developed and administered to 66 children along with measures of depression (Children's Depression Inventory, Bellevue Index of Depression, Depression Symptom Checklist) and self-esteem (Self-Esteem Inventory). As predicted, children who scored high on the hopelessness scale showed significantly more severe depression and lower self-esteem than children who scored low on the scale. Children who evinced suicidal attempt or ideation, independently assessed at intake diagnosis, showed greater hopelessness than children who did not evince intent. Suicidal intent was more consistently correlated with hopelessness than with depression, a finding parallel to results obtained with adults. Overall, the present findings suggest that negative expectations toward oneself and the future can be assessed in children and are related both to depression and suicidal intent.

Cognitive bias and depression in psychiatrically disturbed children and adolescents.

“…These results parallel those found with adults and are also consistent with a number of studies on depression-related cognitions in children. Kazdin, French, Unis, Esveldt-Dawson, and Sherick (1983) demonstrated That a children's version of Beck's Hopelessness scale was significantly related to severity of depression on the CDI and to suicidal intent among psychiatric inpatient children . With non-clinical children, Moyal ( 1977) reported that a self-blaming tendency and an external locus of control were correlated with depression , whereas Seligman et al ( 1984) found that internal attributions for negative events were correlated with the CDI.…”

Computer-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy for child anxiety: Results of a randomized clinical trial.

“…The 27-item CDI has high internal consistency and moderate retest reliability, and it correlates with measures of related constructs (Kazdin, French, Unis, Esveldt-Dawson, & Sherick, 1983).…”

Predicting pain among children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

“…The Hopelessness Scale for Children is a 17-item, self-report, true-false scale designed to measure the continuum of hope to hopelessness [31]. The child is asked to agree or disagree with statements such as, "I want to grow up because I think things will get better."…”