Depressive Disorder and Your child

What Is the Depressive Disorder?

Depression seems to bear no bounds, it can affect anyone at any point in one`s life. Even children and adolescents can be affected by this serious affliction.
The irritable, lowered mood and lowered self-esteem, loss of interest for engaging into normal activity,  are the symptoms defining this disease and it`s victims. If this mental illness is left untreated it can result in a whole suite of undesirable conducts like drug use and abuse, absentheism and failure in school and, ultimatelly, even suicide.

Look for the signs in your child:

•  Drug and alcohol abuse

•  Low energy and chronic fatigue

•  Lack of enthusiasm or motivation

•  Enhanced sensitivity or agitation

•  Continual thoughts of death or suicide

•  Neglected school or lowered school functioning

•  Overwhelming feelings of sadness and hopelessness

•  Lack of focus, indecisiveness, or lowered apprehension

•  Excessive guilt, feelings of worthlessness, helplessness

• Social withdrawal and loss of interest towards pleasureable activities

• Predominantly physiologic complaints such as headaches and stomachaches

• Altered eating and sleeping patterns (weight loss or gain, insomnia or hypersomnia)

Potential causes which might trigger depression include:

1. Children that have gone through any kind of trauma or loss are more likely to develop some form depression
2. Children with learning, attention or behavioral disorders are at a higher risk for depression
3. Adolescent girls are more likely to develop some form of depression
4. If there's a family history of depressive disorder, children are more likely to develop depression
5. A high procentage of runaway children suffer from depression

If experienced early and left untreated, depression is more likely to spring up later on in life. Typically a more aggresive form of the disease will develop and bear upon the individual in adulthood.
In some extreme cases, early depression may predict future suicidal-related conducts.

Solutions for the depressive child's parents:
Whenever a child's behaviour seems suspect, pointing towards an early onset of depression, adults should:

• Inform themselves regarding the signs of depressive disorder
• Monitor the child and take into account the length, frequency and severity of the problems when they occur
• Ask for psychiatrical advice and diagnosis
• Stay informed about health services, possible prevention and treatment for depression
• Join an organization or family network which focuses on prevention, treatment or general counseling

Depression is treatable. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for children with depression. Children who exhibit symptoms of depression should be referred to and evaluated by a mental health professional who specializes in treating children and adolescents. The diagnostic evaluation may include psychological testing, laboratory tests and consultation with other specialists. A comprehensive treatment plan may include psychotherapy, ongoing evaluation and monitoring, and in some cases, psychiatric medication. Optimally, this plan is developed with the family, and whenever possible, the child or adolescent is involved in treatment decisions.

Depression is a treatable condition. If children exhibit symptoms of depression, acting early and seeking proper diagnosis and treatment are essential for the young individual. A comprehensive treatment program may include attentive supervision, psychotherapy, ongoing evaluation and in some rare cases, medication.