© 2008 Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists Hong Kong J Psychiatry 2008;18:55-61 Original Article 55 Dr M Ramli, MMed (Psych), Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Dr S Adlina, MPH, Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Dr A Suthahar, MMed (Psych), Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Dr AB Edariah, MPHTM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Dr F Mohd Ariff, MPH, Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Dr AHH Narimah, PhD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Dr AS Nuraliza, PhD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Dr I Fauzi, MMed (Psych), Department of Psychiatry, Selayang Hospital, Selayang, Selangor, Malaysia. Dr C Karuthan, MSc (Applied Statistics), Faculty of Information Technology & Quantitative Sciences, University of Technology MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Address for correspondence: Dr M Ramli, Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology MARA (UiTM), Level 20, S&T Tower 1, 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: (603) 5544 3983 @ 6012 2484076; Fax: (603) 5544 2831; E-mail: ramlidr@yahoo.com Submitted: 17 July 2007; Accepted: 23 August 2007 Introduction Childhood depression is a matter of major concern because