Background and Aims:
Depression in youths is often underdiagnosed because of its heterogeneous clinical presentation which varies according to age and makes the diagnosis complex.

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of depression according to age groups.

Methods:
A retrospective study on 95 youths followed up for depressive disorders from January until August 2018. The sample was divided into children and adolescent groups choosing as limit the age of 12. Chi-square test was used to compare clinical characteristics and t-test for unpaired samples when comparing means.

Results:
The sample consisted of 56 adolescents (mean age: 14,45) and 40 children (mean age: 8,7) with female predominance in adolescent and male in children group. Children were mainly referred for behavioral disturbances (34,2%) while adolescents for suicidal behavior (43%). The onset of the disorders dated from longer in the children group. Irritability was found more significantly among adolescent as well as withdrawal, anhedonia, insomnia, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (for all p<0,01). Conduct disorders were also more prevalent but concerned only runaways (p=0,039). In the children group, attentional problems were more reported (p=0,011) and enuresis was more prevalent (p=0,003) but not encopresis and neither somatic complaints. Evolution of the disorders were similar between groups but follow-up was more irregular among children (p=0,022) with more lost sight.

Conclusions:
Clinical features in depression disorders happen to differ according to the period of life and the recognition of this specificity is necessary to insure an optimal care and prevent complications.

12 - CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DEPRESSION IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENTS