Depression refers to a psychological disorder that affects the emotions, thoughts and behaviors of the individual, characterized by ongoing sadness, anger, loss of interest in social relationships and activities, hopelessness, a sense of worthlessness and, in some cases, accompanying suicidal thoughts.
The prevalence of childhood depression in our country is around 3%. The prevalence increases in boys under the age of 10 and in girls over the age of 16. The symptoms of depression in childhood may vary.
Symptoms of Childhood Depression
Irritability, irritability, irritability , persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, social withdrawal, withdrawal from social environments, extreme sensitivity to rejection and frustration, appetite changes (increase or decrease in appetite), sleep changes (excessive sleepiness or difficulty falling asleep, nightmares), flare-ups, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, physiological complaints that do not respond to treatment (such as stomach ache, headache), decreased functionality in maintaining social life (reluctance to participate in school and extracurricular activities, lack of any interest, continuing reluctance in family or among friends), feelings of worthlessness and/or blame, impaired thinking (distorted perception of social cues, feeling unloved/unvalued), thoughts of death and/or suicide.
Effects of Childhood Depression
Substance use is observed in more advanced stages during childhood . Studies conducted in our country show that children from the age of 12 are at great risk of substance use.
Although suicide attempts are rare in children under the age of 12 , impulsive attempts are also common in times of sadness and anger. Although suicide attempts are more common in girls than in boys, the rate of completed suicide is higher in boys.
Not every child will experience the symptoms mentioned, and there may be differences in the severity of the symptoms. Many children may exhibit the symptoms mentioned differently in different environments. While some children’s functionality is not affected in structured environments such as school, in some cases, significant functional deterioration is observed, such as reluctance to participate in social activities, loss of interests, and poor academic performance. This situation encountered in childhood is generally accepted as a normal emotional or psychological change during the developmental process, and therefore it is often not noticed, diagnosed, or treated. However, the child may reactively express this situation with anger behavior. Various studies emphasize the existence of “masked depression” in order to define such situations.
A history of a disease that threatens physical health, genetics, a primary caregiver being depressed, exposure to biochemicals at an early age, chaotic family structure, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, physical or sexual abuse are seen as important factors that trigger depression in childhood. Childhood depression is not a temporary emotional state and should be monitored with appropriate psychological treatment.
A family history of depression, especially the primary caregiver, is seen as one of the most important predictors of childhood depression. Children with one depressed parent show depressive symptoms much earlier than children whose parents are not depressed.
If your child has been showing the above-mentioned symptoms for at least two weeks without any physiological reason, it is recommended that you see a child mental health specialist for a detailed evaluation. The mental health specialist can meet with both the parent and the child and apply various tests for a more detailed evaluation if deemed necessary. Consulting teachers is another important component in evaluating school functioning.
Rather than a specific measurement tool to evaluate childhood depression , clinical observation and family history are important to clarify the diagnosis.
Since childhood depression may be accompanied by problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Conduct Disorder or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, clinical observation is very important in distinguishing such diagnoses.
Treatment for Childhood Depression
Psychotherapy and/or medical treatment is recommended for the treatment of childhood depression . Working in collaboration with the family and meeting the child’s physical and emotional needs is an important part of the treatment process. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment, regular progress of psychotherapy and, if necessary, monitoring of medical treatment constitute an important area of intervention for the child to regain functionality.
Research indicates that childhood depression will lead to various psychological problems in later ages. For this reason, early diagnosis, early intervention and monitoring of the child are very critical.
It is a common situation in our country for families to postpone seeking psychological help for their children due to concerns about being labeled or to deny the observed symptoms by thinking them to be a temporary condition. Due to family structure, the situation the child is in may not be noticed by the family most of the time or the child’s behavior may be interpreted differently (such as mischief, disobedience, angry outbursts). However, in terms of psychological health, it is of critical importance to address the process quickly, to recognize the child’s needs and to receive psychological support in order to regain functionality.
