[Depressive disorders in children and adolescents]

Depressive disorders in children and adolescents are marked by core symptoms similar to those seen in adults, although symptom expression varies greatly with developmental stage. These disorders are common, chronic, and recurrent, and they are often associated with comorbid psychiatric conditions and poor prognosis that can be alleviated by early identification and treatment. The psychiatric assessment of depressed children and adolescents can be difficult and must be performed by an expert clinician. Recent research into the treatment of depression in children and adolescents has been focused on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.