Childhood depression is an emotional and mental disorder that in some ways is little different than adult depression. Still, symptoms of depression in children can present in very different ways than they do in adults. In part, this is a result of the very different developmental and social forces confronting children and young teens. Such forces can include shifting levels of hormones, changing bodies and peer pressure. Depression has frequently been associated in the literature with higher levels of anxiety and stress in children, as well as higher incidence of suicide. Following will examine the question of childhood depression, considering potential signs of depression and what can be done to deal with the issue.
Childhood depression can have an enormous impact on a child’s life, including his or her schoolwork, social interaction and family life. All this can result in a number of problems, including social isolation. Too often, children who are depressed are urged to “get over it” or “snap out of it.” However, the problem is the this easily dismissed or solved. It’s a valid medical condition that can negatively impact every aspect of a child’s life if it goes untreated.
According to researchers, roughly 15% of young children and teenagers show signs of being depressed (Cytryn et al, 1996).. The signs of depression can often be difficult even for professionals to spot, let alone parents. Often, parents or others confuse depression with ordinary feelings of teenage angst and adjustment. But depression is more serious than a child just being disinterested in school and bored at home. Children who are depressed can exhibit the following signs:
sadness, irritability and crying
increases or decreases in weight and/or appetite
lessened interest in activities the child previously enjoyed
decreased energy
problems concentrating
statements expressing hopelessness, worthlessness or guilt
disturbed or reduced sleep
frequently expressed order
talk of suicide
drop in school engagement and performance
Individually, many of these symptoms may not actually represent depression. For instance, children who are experiencing growth spurts or are actively involved in sports often exhibit significant changes in their eating habits. Nevertheless, it’s vital to keep an eye out for such symptoms, particularly if multiple symptoms appear.
When considering the difference that exists between depression and children and teenagers and that that exists in adults, it’s important to consider the physiological differences that can be causing these differences. For instance, research has demonstrated that the young brain of a child or teenager is quite different than that of an adult.
Teenagers can also experience depression because of varying neurotransmitter levels (as compared with adults) and hormonal shifts. Neurotransmitters are vital to the function of the brain and can impact how brain neurons interact with one another (Webster, 2001). Because of this, the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain can affect a child’s mood and behavior patterns.
Younger children in particular often don’t have fully developed mechanisms for coping with stress, rejection or loss. As a consequence, a single tragedy in a child’s life can have long-lasting or even permanent results. For example, the death of a parent, rejection by peers or physical/emotional/sexual abuse can affect a child’s brain function in a way that can lead to depression.
Research has demonstrated that (in addition to environmental factors) depression can also be a consequence of biological factors. It has been shown that depression can be passed from parents to children. Statistics make clear that a child that has one (or multiple) relatives suffering from depression are much more likely to experience depression. Furthermore, teenagers who are frequently subjected to pessimism from others (and in particular from their own parents) will often feel defeated and unable to face daily challenges. This in turn can lead to depression (Bennett, 2014).
In most cases, the proper treatment of depression is best performed by a trained and experienced psychologist or psychiatrist. This individual will first carry out an evaluation of a child’s psychological state, asking that child a number of questions about his or her feelings, thoughts and behaviors. In order for it to be determined that a child suffers from some type of depression or other emotional disorder, that child must meet a series of criteria laid out in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Further, this child must have experienced at least two significant depressive episodes in the preceding two weeks (Rapoport & Ismond, 2014).
In addition to the psychological questions that a psychiatrist or psychologist might ask a child regarding that child’s mood and behavior, a physical exam may be used to help rule out other possible causes for the child’s behavior. There are a number of physical ailments that can cause psychological issues, including depression. For instance, a thyroid imbalance, undiagnosed and untreated diabetes, lupus and physical abnormalities in the brain can all result in depression.
Once a physical cause has been eliminated as a possibility, the psychologist or psychiatrist will attempt to determine the best possible treatment to address a child’s depressive issues. However, since depression often has no single cause, it’s often necessary to employ multiple treatment options before finding the one best suited to a particular child. Frequently this requires a great deal of trial and error. As a consequence, it might take some time for an effective treatment can be implemented.
There are a number of medications that are designed to reduce or entirely eliminate symptoms of depression in children and adults. In fact, in recent years it has become very common for parents to over medicate children who exhibit even the slightest signs of depression or atypical behavior. For this reason, many psychologists and psychiatrists are becoming more reluctant to deal with childhood depression using medications alone. In fact, medication should not necessarily be the first option if others are available and will work.
Even if a child is beginning medical therapy using antidepressants, psychotherapy is still a useful addition to such treatment. There are number of types of psychotherapy available:
Talk Therapy: As the name implies, this type of therapy involves the psychologist sitting down and talking with the child during regular sessions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This approach attempts to replace negative thinking and negative emotions with more positive ones.
Psychodynamic Therapy: This type of therapy requires the psychologist and the patient to look deeply into the child’s psyche in order to resolve any internal conflicts or stresses he or she feels.
In conclusion, while in the past childhood depression was often treated as a minor issue, in recent years the high number of teenage suicides and increased drug use among children has led to the realization of just how serious an issue childhood depression can be. Children can have many reasons for feeling depressed, including both physical and environmental ones. Only by directly confronting these with the aid of professionals and parents hoped to quickly solve their child’s problem.
References
Bennett, S. S. (2014). Children of the depressed: Healing the childhood wounds that come from growing up with a depressed parent. Oakland, CA : New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Cytryn, L., McKnew, D. H., & McKnew, D. H. (1996). Growing up sad: Childhood depression and its treatment. New York: Norton.
Rapoport, J. L., & Ismond, D. R. (2014). DSM-IV Training Guide For Diagnosis Of Childhood Disorders. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. Hoboken : Taylor and Francis.
Webster, R. A. (2001). Neurotransmitters, drugs, and brain function. Chichester: Wiley.
