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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide some information about assessment and clinical features of depressive disorder in a group of adolescents mild mentally retarded. Fifteen adolescents mildly mentally retarded (10 males and 5 female, age ranges 14.0-19.2, mean age 16.2) fulfilled the DSM IV criteria for depressive episode (APA, 1994). An other-report rating scale for depression, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was administered to all the subjects of the sample. All the subjects that met DSM IV (APA, 1994) diagnostic criteria had a MADRS score strongly indicative of depressive disorder. A descriptive analysis of the DSM IV diagnostic criteria and MADRS protocols seems to indicate that some depressive symptoms are particularly frequent; cognitive symptoms (depressive ideation) and functional symptoms (disturbed sleep, appetite, etc.) are less represented than emotional symptoms (sadness, inner tension) and psychomotor symptoms.

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Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents with Mild Mental Retardation

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