Depression in the school-aged child: implications for primary care

The diagnosis, classification and treatment of depression as a pediatric problem are receiving attention by an increasing number of clinicians and researchers today. Until recently skepticism concerning the emotional ability of a child to experience depressive feelings or illness resulted in a scarcity of research on the topic. A review of literature published in the last two decades reveals that depression can and does exist in children as young as six years. Furthermore, several studies suggest that it is underdiagnosed and underreported in pediatric clinical settings. Current literature provides pediatric practitioners with "at-risk" factors and symptoms of childhood depression to aid in casefinding, referral and treatment necessary to promote the emotional well-being of a child.