In the present study, depressive symptomatology was based on children's self-report ratings using the PDS. PDEP children were more likely to report problems with sleeping, loneliness, attention and feeding and were perceived by their mothers as being more emotional, lending further support that there were differences between the groups. Whether these PDEP children are more likely to become depressed adolescents is not known. Because the rates of clinical depression increase dramatically during mid- to late adolescence [75], the comorbidity between FH and depression may become more evident during this developmental time-period. We caution that the PDS does not diagnose depression, and that the symptomatic profiles of depressive disorders lack homogeneity in children (e.g. some undereat whereas others overeat) [76]. Whether specific profiles are more associated with heightened sucrose preferences and the use of sweets as analgesics is an important area for future research.
