Journal of Depression and Anxiety
Open Access

Diagnosis for Depression in Childhood and Adolescence

^*Correspondence: Nevada Roy, Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel, Email:

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Description

Depression is a mental illness characterised by persistent sadness or irritability, as well of physical and mental signs and symptoms, including fatigue, apathy, sleep problems, loss of appetite, disengagement; low self-esteem or worthlessness; difficulty concentrating or indecisiveness; or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Depression in childhood and adolescence is similar to adult major depressive illness, except young people may experience increased irritability or behavioural dyscontrol rather than the more frequent sad, empty, or hopeless feelings that adults experience. Children who are stressed, grieving, or who suffer from attention, learning, behavioural, or anxiety difficulties are more likely to develop depression. Outside of other mood disorders, childhood depression is frequently associated with mental problems, the most common of which are anxiety disorder and conduct disorder.

Depression runs in families as well. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), third wave CBT, and interpersonal therapy all showed small beneficial benefits in the prevention of depression. Although the legitimacy of diagnosing Child depression as a mental condition, as well as the efficacy of various techniques of screening and therapy, remains debatable, psychologists have devised many treatments to assist children and adolescents suffering from depression.

Furthermore, half of all children with depression will experience a recurrence at some point in their adulthood. While there is no gender difference in depression rates until the age of 15, after that age, women's rates double in comparison to men. However, there is no gender difference in terms of recurrence rates or symptom intensity. On average, greater risk factors for depression than men, in an attempt to explain these findings. These risk factors interact with the regular stressors and challenges of adolescent growth to cause depression to emerge. Depression in childhood and adolescence is linked to a variety of consequences that can occur later in life for the person afflicted.

Poor physical and mental health, social difficulties, and suicide are just a few of the possible results.

Depressive emotions in children might manifest as being especially irritable, which can manifest as acting out, irresponsible behaviour, or frequent outbursts of anger or aggression. Physical complaints, such as sad facial expressions (frowning) and poor eye contact, can be used by children who lack the cognitive or linguistic development to adequately express their mental states.

Diagnosis

To be clinically diagnosed, a child must also demonstrate four other symptoms. A physiologist or psychiatrist, for example, is a medical or mental health professional. Signs include, an unusual change in sleep habits (for example, trouble sleeping or overly indulged sleeping hours); a significant amount of weight gain/ loss due to a lack of or excessive eating; experiencing aches/pains for no apparent reason; and an inability to concentrate on tasks or activities, to name a few. If these symptoms are persistent for two weeks or more, it is safe to assume that the youngster, or anyone else for that matter, is suffering from serious depression.

Treatment is frequently divided into three phases by clinicians: The purpose of the acute phase, which usually lasts six to twelve weeks, is to alleviate symptoms. The purpose of the continuation phase, which could extend many months longer, is to maximise improvements. Clinicians may make changes to a medication's dose at this point. The goal of the maintenance phase is to avoid relapse. At this point, a drug's dose may be reduced, or psychotherapy may be given more weight. Treatment is complicated due to individual variances in life experience, temperament, and biology; no single treatment is suited for everyone.

Psychotherapy and medicine are two treatments that are frequently employed. Adolescents have expressed a preference for psychotherapy over antidepressant medication in some studies. Cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal therapy have been shown to be effective treatment alternatives for teenagers. According to studies, the most effective treatment is a mix of psychotherapy and medicine. Pediatric massage treatment may have an immediate influence on a child's emotional condition at the time of the massage, but there has been less evidence of long-term effects on depression.