Common Questions about Childhood and Teenage Depression
What are the symptoms of child/teen depression?
Unlike adult depression, there is not an abundance of data and research on depressive disorders in children and teenagers. It is thought, however, that symptoms of depression in children and adolescents are similar to those found in adults and include:
- persistent sad, angry or irritable mood
- loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
- significant change in appetite or body weight
- difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
- physical agitation or decreased physical activity
- loss of energy
- feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
- difficulty concentrating
- recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
- recurrent negative statements about self
Some child/adolescent-specific symptoms may include:
- frequent vague, non-specific physical complaints (i.e., headaches, stomach aches)
- outbursts of shouting or crying, unexplained irritability
- substance abuse
- fear of death
- social isolation, peer relationship difficulties
- new problems in school
- extreme sensitivity
- recklessness
- deterioration of physical appearance
- drop in academic performance
How do I know if my child is depressed or just in a bad mood?
According to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), five or more of the above symptoms must persist for two or more weeks before a diagnosis of major depression is indicated. It's important to realize, however, that depression in children and, particularly, in adolescents is often misdiagnosed because symptoms are dismissed as normally occurring "mood swings," disobedience or "testing." While it's true that teens and even younger children can tend to be moody, persistence in one or more of the areas above should be warning signs of possible depression.
Another reason identifying depression in young people can be difficult is that they themselves often are not good at identifying and describing how they feel. Rather than communicating their emotional or mood states, they may act out with negative or problematic behavior (i.e., use substances, miss curfews, skip school, etc.), which may be perceived by adults as misbehavior.
Is depression in children and teens common?
According to NIMH data, 2.5 percent of children and up to 8.3 percent of adolescents in the U.S. suffer from depression. Depression in young people often co-occurs with other mental disorders, most commonly anxiety, disruptive behavior or substance abuse disorders. Depression also may be a factor with physical illnesses, such as diabetes.
Disturbingly, suicide is too often associated with depression in young people. NIMH cites a 1997 study that showed suicide to be the third leading cause of death in 10- to 24-year olds. Among adolescents who develop a major depressive disorder, as many as 7 percent may commit suicide in the young adult years.
How do I get my child/adolescent help with depression?
If you suspect your child or adolescent may be depressed, don't delay in making an appointment with a physician or a therapist. While family or primary health care physicians can diagnose and treat depression, consider seeking consultation with a psychiatrist who specializes in childhood/adolescent issues. Psychiatric specialists are experts in the latest pharmaceutical strategies, including dosage and side effects. Insurance providers can educate members about psychiatric professionals in their networks.
What's included in treatment?
Treatment for depression in children and adolescents often involves talk therapy and may be combined with medication. Ideally, treatment involves the family and may include school interventions.
Is treatment effective for children and teens?
Treatment for depression in adults and children can be very effective. According to NIMH, however, there remains a pressing need for additional research on the effectiveness of psychosocial and pharmacological treatments for depression in youths.
For more information about the use of medications to treat depression in children and adolescents, visit
www.parentsmedguide.org.