|
 |
||
      |
|
|
» Schizophrenia
- Featured Stories - Schizophrenia Research - Recently Diagnosed » Depression - Featured Stories - Depression Research - Recently Diagnosed » Bipolar Disorder - Featured Stories - Bipolar Disorder Research - Recently Diagnosed » Anxiety - Generalized Anxiety - Panic Disorder - Phobias - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Post-Traumatic Disorder - Featured Stories - Anxiety Research - Recently Diagnosed  Childhood Disorders
- Childhood Anxiety Disorder - Autism - Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Childhood Bipolar Disorder - Eating Disorders - Childhood Schizophrenia - Featured Stories - Childhood Disorders Research - Recently Diagnosed |
 Childhood Depression  Depression affects a young person's thoughts, feelings, behavior, and body. Major depression in children and adolescents is serious; it is more than "the blues." When feelings of sadness persist in a child’s life and begin to interfere with his or her ability to function, one must consider clinical depression to be the cause. Depression is not something children can “snap out of.” It is a serious mental health problem that affects about 10 percent of children and adolescents in the general population. In fact, depression affects as many as one in every 33 children and one in eight adolescents. Symptoms Children and adolescents who struggle with depression often exhibit a combination of symptoms. Depressed children are sad, they lose interest in activities they used to like, and they criticize themselves and feel others criticize them. They feel unloved, pessimistic, or even hopeless about the future; they think that life is not worth living, and thoughts of suicide may be present. Depressed children and adolescents are often irritable, which may lead to aggressive behavior. They are indecisive, have problems concentrating, and may lack energy or motivation; they may neglect their appearance and hygiene; and their normal sleep patterns are disturbed. Causes No one thing causes depression, however having a family history of depression, particularly a parent who had depression at an early age, increases the chances that a child or adolescent may develop depression. Family history, stressful life events such as losing a parent, divorce, or discrimination, and other physical or psychological problems, are all factors that contribute to the onset of the disorder. Treatment Depression is treatable and a comprehensive treatment often includes both individual and family therapy. Treatment may also include the use of antidepressant medication, the use of which needs to be monitored carefully. Medication as a first-line course of treatment should be considered for children and adolescents with severe symptoms that would prevent effective psychotherapy or those with chronic or recurrent episodes. Optimally, this plan is developed with the family and medical providers. Whenever possible, the child or adolescent should be involved in decisions. This "system of care" is designed to improve the child's ability to function in all areas of life—at home, at school, and in the community. If you think your child may be experiencing symptoms of depression, trained medical help should be sought immediately. Families can turn to child psychiatrists and psychologists and developmental/behavioral pediatricians. These individuals are those who are most often trained in childhood depression or in the diagnosis of other childhood mental disorders. » NARSAD's Role in Childhood Disorders Research
|
Related News
Upcoming NARSAD Events
Infoline
|
