This study aimed to determine the relationships between depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a sample of adolescent survivors following the Wenchuan earthquake in China. Two-hundred adolescent survivors were reviewed at 12, 18 and 24-months post-earthquake. Depression and PTSD were assessed by two self-report questionnaires: The revised Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children and the Revised Child PTSD Symptom Scale, respectively. The cross-lagged structural equation analysis with latent variables indicated that the PTSD symptoms and depression could be considered as two distinct and high-correlated constructs, and depression symptomatology pre-event could predict post-event PTSD. Depression symptoms play a crucial role in the development of PTSD symptoms. Implications of the results for psychological service providers to children and youth are discussed. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)