Health And Wellness Center: Childhood depression

Studies show that between 2% and 2.5% of school-age children are depressed. This disease is less common in preschool. However, the number of adolescents affected by depression is higher, estimated figures of between 5% and 8%.

Often cases of children with decreased school performance, a noticeable change in their behavior or nonspecific physical symptoms. In these situations, we may find ourselves before a depressed child.

Symptoms of childhood depression

The child finds more difficulty than adults when communicate and express their feelings. For this reason, in preschool depression it is manifested by irritability, fatigue, headaches and low overall tone. The child cries frequently stops interested in things and shows a lack of involvement in relationships with family and friends. It is common practice that parents and teachers perceive that the child is no longer what it was, which is rare. This perception must be considered as soon as possible to intervene accordingly. Avoid suffering the child and improve their prognosis.

In the school stage, symptoms such as sadness, guilt, low self esteem, anorexia, irritability, apathy, difficulty to enjoy things and sleep disturbances. These symptoms usually take the child to not wanting to participate in group games and refuse to communicate with people, creating a certain isolation that, in turn, makes it harder increasingly out of that situation.

Sleep disorders, anxiety, apathy and, above all, lack of concentration, leading to the decline in school performance, to a greater or lesser extent. It is important that parents and teachers identify the reason why you are experiencing this poor performance or failure at school.

When we talk about adolescents, symptoms focus on behavioral disorders (inadequate or aggressive behavior), often accompanied by substance abuse. They are rare in the adolescent or child, ideas or suicide attempts. We must be very attentive to comments or evidence to suggest us this serious chance to avoid it.

How a child's depression diagnosed?

Usually a specialist diagnosed childhood depression when said symptoms occur at a moderate intensity and a duration of at least two weeks. Symptoms often recur, confirming the diagnosis by international standards.

When symptoms are observed with a mild, but a long history (over a year), we are facing the so-called dysthymic disorder, which is less severe but more chronic depression. Sometimes dysthymic disorder can end in a depression.

To make a proper diagnosis is essential to know both the child's history and its current state. It is important to complete the information that gives the child himself, with proviniente their parents and teachers to have more views. You need to know if there have been signs of euphoria, mood swings, hyperactivity and other signs that could make us think of a bipolar disorder. Naturally, early diagnosis is essential to treat the disease and prevent future consequences.

What are the Childhood depression causes?

As with other mental illnesses, it seems to be a genetic predisposition in some people, causing great "vulnerability" to this disease. also determines the family, social and school environment. We know that children from broken families are more frequently depressed, with parents suffering from stress or depression and, of course, children who are abused or suffering bullying or bullying.

Some studies show that children than girls, although this trend is reversed during adolescence more depressed. School failure not know if it is a cause of depression, a consequence of the same or both at once. Research also indicates precipitating factors for childhood depression, such as excessive demands and competitiveness, hostile environment, psychological pressure and any life event that has a negative impact on the child.

The US National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) states that children who suffer from depression often have a family history (in which the parent could experience depression in childhood). This situation also occurs in adolescents, although less frequently. Also, the NIMH suggests the following risk factors in child and adolescent depression:

Stress
Snuff consumption
Death of a parent or a loved one
Rupture of a relationship
Attention disorders, behavioral or learning
Chronic diseases (diabetes, etc.)
Children abused or maltreated
Other traumas (including natural disasters)

What is the treatment of childhood depression?

The treatment should be applied as soon as possible, once the diagnosis by the specialist.

The main treatment is psychotherapy to be carried out by a specialist. The most effective psychotherapy in these cases is cognitive behavioral, for a short period of time. This type of therapy is based on the premise that people with depression have a (cognitive) distortion of their vision of the world, the future and themselves. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on these distortions to change them.

In severe or do not improve with psychotherapy cases must resort to antidepressant drugs. Antidepressant drugs are effective next generation, not just cause side effects. In any case, they should be used in conjunction with psychotherapy.

In all cases it is very important to talk to the family, to inform, encourage support the child and help them detect early signs of a possible relapse, so to avoid it. It should reassure informing them that childhood depression is not a rare disease and can be properly treated. They should also know that the prognosis is better if professionals, teachers and family are involved. Always explore the possible existence of other diseases (anxiety, psychosis, diabetes, abuse or substance abuse). In these cases, we must establish a specific treatment.