Have you ever gone through depression? It is most likely that the answer to this question is yes, but can a child go through depression? Yes. When we hear the word depression we usually imagine an adult going through depression but not a child, and yet it is more common than we think. Studies have shown that about 5% to 9% of children meet the criteria for a major depression regardless of their gender (Rathus, 2014).
What exactly is childhood depression and what are the signs a child is going through a major depression? It is normal for children to feel sad at times, but childhood depression is a condition beyond normal sadness. It is different from the normal blues and everyday emotions that children go through during growth. Childhood depression …show more content…
Symptoms can differ from child to child depending of their situation and environment. While one child may suffer from moderate depression, some children may suffer from severe depression or major depressive disorder and others from more chronic depression of dysthymia, which is a constant mild to moderate form of depression. But what exactly causes depression? There are a different factor that may be connected with depression; for example, a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors, and also be caused by other problems like bipolar disorder or the exposure to certain medications or drugs (NIMH, …show more content…
If the symptoms of depressions persist for more than two weeks parents should promptly make an appointment with the child physician so that the child is able to immediately receive proper care. After an extensive evaluation, depending of the child’s degree of depressive illness, he or she may refferred to a mental health professional to better assist the child. If the symptoms of depression are severe the physician may recommend different such as psychotherapy or counseling, and medication such as antidepressants, but a combination of both may be the most effective way to treat the depression.
Parents should do some research on any type of medication prescribed to their children, since according to an article in WebMD, What Are the Treatment Options?, the FDA warns that antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders (WebMD, n.d). However, there are large numbers of research and studies that show the effectiveness of medications, like Prozac for example, to treat depression in
What exactly is childhood depression and what are the signs a child is going through a major depression? It is normal for children to feel sad at times, but childhood depression is a condition beyond normal sadness. It is different from the normal blues and everyday emotions that children go through during growth. Childhood depression …show more content…
Symptoms can differ from child to child depending of their situation and environment. While one child may suffer from moderate depression, some children may suffer from severe depression or major depressive disorder and others from more chronic depression of dysthymia, which is a constant mild to moderate form of depression. But what exactly causes depression? There are a different factor that may be connected with depression; for example, a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors, and also be caused by other problems like bipolar disorder or the exposure to certain medications or drugs (NIMH, …show more content…
If the symptoms of depressions persist for more than two weeks parents should promptly make an appointment with the child physician so that the child is able to immediately receive proper care. After an extensive evaluation, depending of the child’s degree of depressive illness, he or she may refferred to a mental health professional to better assist the child. If the symptoms of depression are severe the physician may recommend different such as psychotherapy or counseling, and medication such as antidepressants, but a combination of both may be the most effective way to treat the depression.
Parents should do some research on any type of medication prescribed to their children, since according to an article in WebMD, What Are the Treatment Options?, the FDA warns that antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders (WebMD, n.d). However, there are large numbers of research and studies that show the effectiveness of medications, like Prozac for example, to treat depression in