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Depression in children and adolescents
1University of Washington, Spokane, USA.
American Family Physician
|December 29, 2000
Summary
Childhood depression is common and often missed, affecting 2-8% of youth. Early recognition and intervention, including psychotherapy and sometimes medication, are crucial to prevent serious outcomes like school failure and suicide.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric mental health
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
Background:
- Childhood depression is prevalent, affecting 2% of prepubertal children and 5-8% of adolescents.
- It often goes unrecognized, with a spectrum from sadness to severe mood disorders.
- Risk factors include family history and poor academic performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology, risk factors, evaluation, and treatment of depression in children and adolescents.
- To highlight the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of evidence-based treatment guidelines and studies.
- Discussion of diagnostic tools like structured clinical interviews and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist.
- Evaluation of treatment options including psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.
Main Results:
- Psychotherapy is effective for mild to moderate depression in youth.
- Limited data exists for antidepressant efficacy, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) better tolerated but not necessarily more effective than tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).
- Depressed youth face high risks of school failure and suicide.
Conclusions:
- Prompt identification and management are essential for depressed children and adolescents.
- Collaboration with mental health professionals is often necessary due to the severity of risks.
- Further research is needed to establish robust evidence-based treatment guidelines.