Childhood Depression

Symptoms of Childhood Depression

All children feel sad or low at one time or another. All children go through short periods in which they have trouble getting along with others or difficulty concentrating in school. Depression in a child is marked by symptoms that last for many months or even years. If your child exhibits many of the following symptoms, discuss the possibility of depression with your pediatrician.

• Your child seems sad and unhappy most of the time.
• Your child has become unusually aggressive or easily frustrated.
• Your child seems sleepy or listless most of the time.
• Your child usually does not want to play with family or friends.
• Your child either sleeps too much or has difficulty sleeping at night.
• Your child has little interest in eating.
• Your child has recently lost or gained a significant amount of weight.
• Your child has a low self-esteem.
• Your child frequently complains of feeling sick.
• Your child is usually difficult to engage in conversation or activity.
• Your child doesn’t seem to enjoy anything.
• Your child is having difficulty concentrating at school.
• Your child has an increased difficulty getting along with other children.
• Your child’s grades have slipped significantly over a period of time.
• Your child seems unusually interested in death or talks about suicide.

Possible Causes of Childhood Depression

Depression is believed to be caused by biochemical changes in the brain which affect the balance of the brain chemicals Serotonin and Onorepinephrine. Other psychosocial factors can trigger or prolong depressive episodes. Life changes like divorce or the loss of a loved one can trigger depression in a child. If either parent has a history of depression, children are more likely to suffer from depression in their lifetime as depression is believed to have a genetic predisposition. Some experts believe environmental causes like food additives and even air quality can trigger the brain chemical imbalance.

Treatment of Depression in Children

Experts agree that depression in children should be taken very seriously by parents and pediatricians. Treatment for severe depression should be a combination of psychotherapy and the use of antidepressant medication. There are many highly effective and safe antidepressants available today. If the depression is diagnosed by a professional as mild, psychotherapy alone may be sufficient. It is important that therapy be continued for at least several months. Parents should be aware that there is a high rate of relapse in childhood depression and that relapses should be treated swiftly and thoroughly. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 20 to 40 percent of adolescents who suffer from major depression, develop bipolar disorder within 5 years of the onslaught of depression. Therefore children who have suffered from a major depressive episode should be closely monitored by parents and pediatrician long after the episode has subsided.

Summary

It is believed that 1 out of every 200 children under the age of twelve will suffer from depression. Girls are more likely to experience the illness than boys by 2 to 1. Parents should be able to recognize the symptoms of depression in children which are often different than adult symptoms, understand the causes of depression, and be aware of treatment options. Possible depression in children should be taken very seriously. If your child has exhibited many of the symptoms of depression for more than two weeks, discuss your concerns with your pediatrician. For more information on depression in children visit the [http:/www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/childmenu.cfm National Institute of Mental Health]. You may also want to read The Childhood Depression Sourcebook by Jeffrey A. Miller.