Children And Adolescent Depression Overview

Although it is a major problem in the U.S. depression of children and adolescents is most of the times is ignored. The symptoms are always taken by the parents for normal signs of growing up. About 3% of children and 5% of adolescents have depressive disorders. Of all the cases of hospitalization in children 30 – 40 % have depression.

The next factors may indicate childhood depression:

  • - Death of a close relative (or pet)
  • - Losing a friend
  • - Separation anxiety
  • - Family history of depression or bipolar illness (particularly parental)
  • - History of abuse
  • - Divorce of the parents
  • - ADHD
  • - Perfectionist tendencies/high sensitivity to rejection
  • - Poverty
  • - Mental retardation
  • - Chronic illness
  • - Substance abuse

Signs and symptoms of depression

  • - Persistent sadness and increased crying
  • - Loss of interest in favorite activities
  • - Frequent physical complaints
  • - Anxiety (separation anxiety or excessive anxiety about school performance)
  • - Poor school performance and/or frequent absences
  • - Boredom, unable to concentrate, or sluggish
  • - Irritability
  • - Aggression
  • - Change in eating or sleeping patterns
  • - Poor peer relationships
  • - Alcohol and drug use
  • - Promiscuity
  • - Thoughts of suicide

How to treat depression in children and adolescents

First listen to your child and try to be supportive and objective. Try to figure what is the nature of his or her depression and then explain to your child that the problem is only temporary and try to make him focus on his real qualities.

Severe forms of depression in children should be treated by psychotherapy, medication or the two working together. Don't ignore such problem of your child.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is very useful because it helps the child to get over depressive attacks and also makes him or her stronger so that a future attack may not occur.

Medicine

For extremely severe symptoms or in case psychotherapy is not efficient for your child, medication is required. The new antidepressants, especially SRIs including prozac, luvox, zoloft and paxil may be extremely helpful in this situation.

Only one antidepressant, Wellbutrin, handles both depression and ADHD. It may be an effective solution for children with both conditions.

Studies have shown the inactivity and inefficiency of the antidepressants used in the past, especially TCAs.