Depression in children… Serious indicators for your child that should not be ignored

Childhood depression differs from the fleeting states of sadness that children may experience as they grow up.

Just because a child seems sad doesn’t necessarily mean he or she is suffering from major depression. But if the period of grief is prolonged or becomes an obstacle to the child’s social activity, interests, schoolwork, or family life, this may mean that he suffers from depression in children. Always remember that it is a serious disease, but it is also treatable.

How do I know if my child is depressed?

• Symptoms of depression in children vary, and the condition is often not diagnosed or treated because it is confused with the normal emotional and psychological changes that children go through during their developmental periods.
• Hidden depression manifests as angry behavior in younger children, while in older children it manifests as sadness or low mood, just like adults with this condition.
• The initial symptoms of depression are sadness, feelings of hopelessness, and mood swings.

Forms of depression in children

Signs and symptoms include:

• anger.
• Constant feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
• social withdrawal.
• The child is more sensitive to rejection.
• Changes in appetite, either increased or decreased.
• Changes in sleep (insomnia or excessive sleeping).
• crying spells
• Poor focus.
• Fatigue and low energy.
• Physical complaints (such as stomachache or headache) that do not respond to treatment.
• Problems doing activities at home, with friends, or at school.
• Feelings of unworthiness or guilt.
• Difficulty thinking.
• Thoughts of death or suicide.
• Self-harm, for example, cutting the skin or taking a drug overdose.

A depressed child does not suffer from all these symptoms at once, but the symptoms that appear on him vary.

• Some children may continue to do well, while most children with major depression experience a marked change in social activities, loss of interest in school, poor academic performance, and a change in appearance.
• Children may also start using drugs or alcohol, especially if they are over the age of 12.
• Although suicide attempts are rare under the age of twelve, some children attempt suicide, especially when feeling angry, and girls are more likely to attempt suicide, while boys are more likely to succeed in their attempt.
• Children with a family history of violence, alcohol abuse, or physical or sexual abuse are more likely to attempt suicide.

Who are the children most susceptible to depression?

• Approximately 3% of children and 8% of adolescents in the United States suffer from depression.
• This disease is significantly more common in boys under the age of ten. But with the age of sixteen, the incidence of girls increases.
• Bipolar disorder is more common in adolescents than in younger children. But it is more severe in children than adolescents. It may be accompanied by:
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• conduct disorder (CD)

Causes of depression in children

As in adults, its causes in children can be due to a combination of things related to the following:

• physical health.
• life events.
• Family history of the disease.
• The surrounding environment, such as: exposure to bullying, physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
• Genetic weakness.
• biochemical disturbances.
• Sometimes depression is triggered by a single difficult event, such as parental separation, or problems with children at school or other.

Prevention of depression in children

• Children with a family history of depression are more likely to develop it. Children whose parents suffer from the disease tend to have their first bout of it earlier than children whose parents do not have it.
• Children from disordered or conflicted families, or children and teens who abuse alcohol or drugs, are at greater risk of depression.

Diagnosis of depression in children

• If your child’s symptoms last at least two weeks, you should see a doctor to make sure there are no physical causes for the symptoms and to make sure your child gets the right treatment.
• Consultation with a child mental health professional is also recommended.
• The mental health assessment should include interviews with the child and the parents.
• Information provided by teachers, friends, and classmates can be useful to establish that these symptoms persist throughout the child’s activities and are a significant change from previous behavior.
• No specific medical or psychological tests are able to clearly diagnose it, but it can be diagnosed through tools such as questionnaires (for both the child and the parents), along with personal information.
• Sometimes therapy sessions and questionnaires can reveal other concerns that contribute to this condition, such as: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Treating depression in children

• It is important for your child to get help early; The longer it takes, the more likely it is that the condition will become a long-term problem.
• Treatment options for children with this condition are similar to those for adults, including psychotherapy and medication.
• The doctor may suggest using psychotherapy first, before considering antidepressant treatment, if there is no significant improvement.
• The results of studies to date show that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is most effective in treating this disease.
• Studies show that the antidepressant fluoxetine is effective in treating depression in children and adolescents. This drug is officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat children between the ages of 8 and 18 who have this condition.
• Most medications used to treat depression in children contain a warning that suicidal thoughts can be increased. It is therefore important that these medications are taken and monitored under the care of a trained psychologist and counseled on the potential risks and benefits for your child.
• Children with bipolar disorder are usually treated with psychotherapy and a combination of antidepressant and mood-stabilizing medications.
• Antidepressants should be used with caution, as they may trigger manic episodes or hyperactive behavior in children with bipolar disorder.
• Managing a child’s medications should be part of an overall care plan that includes treatment and routine primary care appointments.
• The Food and Drug Administration warns that antidepressant medications may increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with this and other psychiatric disorders. If you have questions or concerns, you should discuss them with your doctor.