Depression in Children

How common is depression?

• 3.2% of children between the ages of 3-17 years have depression.
• The male to female ratio is approximately 1:1 during childhood.
• Adolescent and adult women may be as much as 3 times more likely than men to be depressed.

What causes depression?

• If parents have depression, the likelihood of children having depression is about 40-65%.
• There is a two- to four-fold increase in depression among first-degree relatives.
• Depression is more common among those who have/had psychosocial difficulties, physical/sexual abuse, neglect, chronic illness, school difficulties (bullying, academic failure), social isolation, family or marital disharmony, divorce/separation, parental psychopathology, and domestic violence.

Protectors of childhood depression:

• Better family function, a prosocial peer group, higher IQ, greater educational aspirations, a positive relationship with a caregiver, and close caregiver supervision, monitoring, and involvement.

How to diagnose depression?

• Children will have symptoms of depressed mood, lack of enjoyment, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, suicidal ideation, plan or attempt, fatigue or loss of energy, decreased or increased sleep, weight loss or gain, decreased ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness, psychomotor retardation, or agitation.

How to screen depression?

• Depression diagnosis is made based on history, clinical symptoms, and signs.
• Screening tests may be used to make or confirm the diagnosis.

Is depression associated with other disorders?

• Yes, depression can present without any other diseases or may be the manifestation of other diseases involving endocrine-metabolic diseases, infectious diseases, collagen disorders, nutritional disorders, neurologic diseases, and neoplastic diseases.
• Depression may be associated with pharmacologic agents or drugs meant to treat other diseases.

How to treat depression?

• Depression is treated either by using pharmacologic medications or non-pharmacologic interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Pharmacologic medications used depend on the person and associated other comorbidities.

What happens if depression is not diagnosed and untreated?

• If depression is not recognized or treated appropriately, it affects the individual’s ability to live up to his/her potential, become less sociable, and not able to keep a steady job.
• Sometimes, untreated patients may harm themselves.