ESTUDO DE SINTOMAS DEPRESSIVOS EM CRIANÇAS INSTITUCIONALIZADAS.

Abstract

The present essay is organized in two sections, which main target is studying child depression in institutionalized children. The first section consists of a systematic bibliographic review to examine or analyze the scientific production, concerning the studies where assessments tools were used to evaluate child depression in the last ten years. To make it possible, a search in the following national and international database files was made (September 2003 to August 2013.): Virtual Library in Health- BVS Psi Scielo, Lilacs, Index Psi Magazines and Pepsic, using different combination among keywords. The results showed that the studies were in conducted various areas of knowledge, and that the predominant method of descriptive research with quantitative data analyzes. A total of twenty-eight articles were brought up. The results showed that the studies were in conducted various areas of knowledge, and that the predominant method of descriptive research with quantitative data analyzes. Considerable proportion of articles aimed to investgate the factors that cause childhood depression (N=10; 35,7%) and related to such pathology symptoms (N=7; 25%). Ten different instruments to analyze child depression were found. The Child Depression Inventory CDI was the instrument of major incidence (N=21; 75%) and presented good intern consistency with the selected studies. The second section is about an empiric article which aims at analyzing depressive symptoms in institutionalized sheltered children, compared to children living with their families. Fifty male and female children were part of this study aged between 7 and 11 years old. Twentythree of these children lived in institutions-shelter and twenty-seven lived with their families. To analyze children depressive symptoms, the following instruments or resources were used; CDI, CBCL and the Rorschach-SC. The results showed that institutionalized children reveal more depressive symptoms, present more emotional distress, have affective expression with no modulation, are immature and inopportune, they also have more aggressive behavior and present difficulty in following rules. Significant correlation between depressive symptoms and externalizing behavior was found (r = 0,43; p<0,05). In general, both sections of this dissertation bring up the importance of considering psychological aspects that influence in the appearing, the symptoms and investigation of child depression.