Depression in Children (Part 1)
Can Children Really Suffer From Depression?
Yes. Childhood depression is different from the normal "blues" and everyday emotions that occur as a child develops. Just because a child seems sad, this does not necessarily mean he or she has significant depression. If the sadness becomes persistent, or if disruptive behavior that interferes with normal social activities, interests, schoolwork, or family life develops, it may indicate that he or she has a depressive illness.
Keep in mind that while depression is a serious illness, it is also a treatable one.
How Can I tell if My Child is depressed?
The symptoms of depression in children vary. It is often undiagnosed and untreated because they are passed off as normal emotional and psychological changes that occur during growth. Early medical studies focused on "masked" depression, where a child’s depressed mood was evidenced by acting out or angry behavior. While this does occur, particularly in younger children, many children display sadness or low mood similar to adults who are depressed. The primary symptoms of depression revolve around sadness, a feeling of hopelessness, and mood changes.
Signs and symptoms of depression in children include:
• Irritability or anger.
• Continuous feelings of sadness, hopelessness.
• Social withdrawal.
• Increased sensitivity to rejection.
• Changes in appetite -- either increased or decreased.
• Changes in sleep -- sleeplessness or excessive sleep.
• Vocal outbursts or crying.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Fatigue and low energy.
• Physical complaints (such as stomachaches, headaches) that do not respond to treatment
• Reduced ability to function during events and activities at home or with friends, in school, extracurricular activities, and in other hobbies or interests.
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
• Impaired thinking or concentration.
• Thoughts of death or suicide.
Not all children have all of these symptoms. In fact, most will display different symptoms at different times and in different settings.
Although some children may continue to function reasonably well in structured environments, most kids with significant depression will suffer a noticeable change in social activities, loss of interest in school and poor academic performance, or a change in appearance.
Which Children Get Depressed?
About 2.5% of children in the U.S. suffer from depression. Depression is significantly more common in boys under the age of 10. But by age 16, girls have a greater incidence of depression.
Bipolar disorder is more common in adolescents than in younger children. Bipolar disorder in children can, however, be more severe than in adolescents. It may also occur with, or be hidden by, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or conduct disorder (CD).
Source: webmd.com
Other links:
What is Bipolar disorder?
Symptoms & Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder: Preventing manic episodes
Bipolar Disorder in Children
Mixed Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar II Disorder
