Childhood Depression

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The core warning signs of a depression are the same for children and adolescents, although there are data that suggest that the prominence of characteristic symptoms may change with age. Certain symptoms such as somatic complaints, irritability, negativity, and social withdrawal are particularly common in children, whereas psychomotor retardation, hypersomnia, and delusions are less common in pre-puberty than in adolescence and adulthood.¹ Other symptoms of depression in children include separation anxiety though this is mostly for younger children. Note that it is often difficult to identify depression in children as their symptoms mirror normal mood swings as are typical child-like tendencies.¹

In pre-pubertal children, depression occurs more frequently in conjunction with other mental disorders (especially Disruptive Behavior Disorders, Attention-Deficit Disorders, and Anxiety Disorders) than as an isolated diagnosis.¹

In pre-pubertal children, depression occurs more frequently in conjunction with other mental disorders (especially Disruptive Behavior Disorders, Attention-Deficit Disorders, and Anxiety Disorders) than as an isolated diagnosis.¹

References

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition: Text revision. Washington, D.C: Author.