Depression in Children
What is depression?
Depression can be seen at any age in children. Depression is characterized by a persistent sad mood and loss of interest in everyday activities.
Unlike normal sadness occurring from time to time, depression lasts for weeks or months.
It’s important to get help early if you think your child may be depressed.
Signs and symptoms:
- Sadness, or low mood that persist for more than two weeks.
- Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy.
- Difficulty in concentration.
- Irritability, bouts or anger or crying.
- Feeling tired or exhausted.
- Appetite changes, (decrease or increase) with weight changes.
- Interact less with friends and family.
- Physical or somatic complaints as headaches and stomachaches.
- Problems at school (problems of concentration & thinking process, with decrease in academic performance, and change level of interactions with others).
- Feeling: guilty or worthlessness.
- Thoughts: suicide or self-harm.
Causes:
Genetic
Family history of depression other psychiatric disorders.
Environmental:
- Family problems: (marital discard or violence – poverty & financial difficulties.
- School problems: bullying
- Stressful life events: (physical, emotional or sexual abuse – loss of caregiver or loved one – trauma or having chronic or serious medical condition.
Diagnosis:
If you think your child is showing signs of depression, talk to the child’s pediatrician, who may refer you to a mental health specialist for a more detailed evaluations.
- There is no laboratory test to diagnose depression. A mental health evaluation would include interview with the child, and parents. Information from school could be required.
- Specific laboratory tests could be requested to rule out medical causes (for example anaemia, thyroid function or substance abuse).
- Evaluation of other mental health problems, such as anxiety or (ADHD).
Treatment
- Psychotherapy
Forms of therapy in which children learn to think more positivity and acquire more functional coping strategies. One of the most effective in depression is (CBT) cognitive behavioural therapy.
For young children, play therapy may be the best. - Medications:
Antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are most commonly prescribed and approved to be used with children. For young children, play therapy may be the best.
- Show your feelings of love and concern for your child
- Provide care and attention, encourage your child to express his feelings & ideas.
- Be patient and kind: Remind your self that your child would show angry outburst or irritability, or having below average school records “out of depression”. Try to understand the nature of depression, and your child’s difficulties.
- Provide positive family and home environment
- Spending quality time with your child.
- Encouraging positive emotions or behaviors.
- Try to provide your child with:
- Healthy diet.
- Enough sleep hours.
- Daily physical activity.
- Safe and supportive school environment.