Although the majority of researchers are probably in agreement regarding the existence of childhood depression, there is less than consensus regarding its structure. In this study age-related differences in child and adolescent self-reports of depression were assessed using two different analytic strategies. Subjects were children (N=515) and adolescents (N=768) who were seeking or receiving services at in- and out-patient mental health facilities. Children's and adolescents' self-reports of depression were compared to determine if the levels of individual symptoms and associated features varied as a function of age. Second, the impact of age on the relations between symptoms was examined, testing for developmental differences in factor patterns of self-reported depression. The results of the study suggest a number of important parallels between childhood and adolescent depression. The adolescents and children differed significantly on only 3 of 26 of the Children's Depression Inventory items, with the children scoring higher on a somatic and an externalizing item, and the adolescents scoring higher on a relatively abstract item pertaining to worrying. In sum, whereas child versus adolescent differences in associated features were notable, other differences were less than striking, suggesting that self-expression of depressive symptomatology may be less marked than might be expected. (ABL)