Depression in Children and Adolescents

What is depression? Depression is a mood disorder. It is characterized by a loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of sadness, or both. In children and adolescents, indicators of sad feelings, even if your child does not identify a sense of sadness, can also signal the presence of depression. These indicators include tearfulness or irritability. In children and adolescents, depression is further characterized by several of these other symptoms: withdrawal or other changes in social patterns, a decline in school performance, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, changes in sleep or appetite patterns, concentration difficulties, complaints of body aches or pain, thoughts of suicide. Especially because depression is often related to great disruption in a child's academic and social life, and because it often is related to increased risk for abusing substances and suicide, it should be considered a very serious disorder.

How likely is it that my child will have depression? In the general population, less than two out of every one hundred children under age six have depression. About 2% of elementary school aged children have depression. About 8% of teenagers have depression. For children in selected populations, that is children who have certain risk factors, rates of depression are higher. These characteristics include: having a parent, brother, or sister with a history of depression; a stressful home environment; experiencing trauma or loss; chronic illness; or chronic pain.

Can depression be prevented? Research has yet to clearly identify a means to prevent depression. However, there are some common sense ways to help your child if you believe they are at risk for developing depression:

• Maintain general good health. Do the basics: Good diet, plenty of rest, regular exercise.


• Be proactive. Before your child has a depressive episode: educate yourself about depression; talk with your child about their thoughts and feelings; be alert to indicators of depression; and be prepared to seek professional help.


• Reduce or eliminate risk factors. For example, if a child's home environment is stressful, it may be especially important to reduce that stress as that may make a depression for that child less likely.


• Respond rapidly to signs of depression. Early intervention can reduce how long a person is depressed. It can also reduce or prevent what are sometimes called second-order effects. For children and adolescents, the second order effects of depression include academic disruption, social dysfunction, substance abuse, and risk for suicide.


• Get help from a mental health care provider with expertise in childhood depression and stay with it. Proper treatment not only can help resolve a depression, but it can also help prevent the occurrence of future episodes.

What can be done to help if my child has depression? Treatment includes medication, counselling or both. Other forms of treatment, such as light-therapy and exercise, can also be useful. Perhaps the most important thing a parent can do to help their child with depression is to get them treatment and stay with it. Additionally, treatment for the family can be indicated in some situations. Talk with a health care provider who has experience treating childhood depression to find out what treatment would be of most help in your child's situation.

Where can I learn more? General information about depression in children and adolescents can be found on the web at numerous sites. Two well organized sites are: http://www.canmat.org/ and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ .



For specific information regarding your particular child's circumstances, contact a health care provider with expertise in child and adolescent depression. In the Toronto, Ontario area, you may contact Dr. Steve Webne at mail@drwebne.com or at 416 481-2600 ext. 24.