Childhood depression is characterized by a state of deep sadness, slowness of thought, speech, movement and physiological functioning, and feelings of stagnation, worthlessness and pessimism. Child and adolescent depression (CED) is a frequent, recurrent and chronic disorder that can lead to serious morbidity and mortality.
Childhood depression can manifest itself in different ways. While it can affect the child's emotions and behavior, the child is unable to concentrate, is generally reluctant, and experiences disturbances in sleep and appetite. Treatment of childhood depression is performed by a child psychiatrist. Depending on the child's depression, the psychiatrist decides on the treatment to be applied.
What are the Symptoms of Childhood Depression?
Depression in childhood usually manifests itself in the form of reluctance. Parents should pay attention to their children's behavior and discourse. Symptoms of childhood depression usually manifest themselves as follows:
- Crying
- Restlessness
- Disruptions in sleep patterns
- Weight loss, lack of discipline
- Lack of appetite
- The child does not make eye contact
- Unresponsiveness to stimuli
- Not wanting to do things he likes
- Having digestive problems
- Body aches are more or less than they should be
- Sometimes there are gas problems
- Throwing and breaking toys, slamming doors, etc.
Babies and children use the language of behavior. For this reason, behavioral disorders can occur in children and infants. For example, there may be delays in the child's development, such as delayed walking, delayed toilet habits and delayed motor skills.
How Does Childhood Depression Occur?
Attachment between mother and child is very important in the 0-18 month period. The formation of attachment involves physical contact, eye contact, the mother's approach to the child, and the relationship she establishes with the child.
When this attachment takes place, the baby develops confidence in himself and the outside world, but if this is not healthy, childhood depression or communication disorders may occur.
Causes of childhood depression can include an unfavorable family environment, lack of social support, divorce, extended family or alcohol and substance abuse in the family, physical illnesses, lack of self-confidence, withdrawal and shyness.
What are the Psychiatric Problems Associated with Childhood Depression?
There are a number of psychological and psychiatric disorders that may develop with childhood depression. These can be listed as follows:
- Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
- Specific learning disabilities, conduct disorder
- Oppositional defiant disorder
Depression can be associated with a number of physical disabilities. This can be linked to periods of development and childhood depression does not always occur in isolation.
How Does a Depressed Child Behave?
Childhood depression can bring some behaviors to the forefront in children. Restlessness and crying may occur in a child with depression.
In addition to being reluctant and whiny, these children often do not want to go to school and avoid being alone. Children up to puberty may have poor relationships with friends. These behaviors may indicate depression in children.
Depression is more common in adults than in children. Childhood depression is more difficult to accept in society and may be caused by living conditions, marriage and work problems.
Can Childhood Depression Happen at Any Age?
Before discussing childhood depression, it is important to look at the meaning of the word depression. Depression means mental depression. Mental depression can occur at any age. Therefore, depression or mental depression can be seen in infants, school-age children, young people and the elderly.
Childhood can be divided into the following periods: infancy, play age, school age and adolescence. During these periods, there may be developmental problems that cause depression. Children may become depressed due to their own deficiencies or due to external factors, as a result of the reflection of the existing stress on themselves and the accompanying problems of adaptation.
Children who will be in the developmental period may have different reactions at different ages, as they develop faster each year. For this reason, depression in children is more distinctive. A 4-year-old child may experience depression and the symptoms are different at this age. An 11-year-old child can also experience depression and the symptoms are different at this age. Therefore, the symptoms may vary depending on age.
How to recognize depression in a baby?
Depression shows different symptoms in infants and adults, and the inability of infants to express themselves in this regard may cause depression to be overlooked. In order to understand depression in infants, serious behavioral disorders compared to their peers should be taken into consideration first.
In addition to frequent and severe crying, sleep disturbances and restlessness, depression should also be suspected in cases such as frequent and prolonged staring into space and constant silence. In such cases, pediatric psychiatrists and psychologists should be consulted for support.
When should psychological support be sought?
If the parents are really sensitive and sensitive, they can recognize the problem in their child early, but if the family does not have this equipment, it is not possible to recognize it early. Families who do not know that their child's behavior is not voluntary may delay seeking expert help.
Because these families are not aware of the situation, they may engage in violent fights and quarrels with the child. They may often bring their children for clinical help after these arguments. However, psychological support should be provided when symptoms appear. The family should not avoid seeking professional support in such cases.
How should I participate in psychotherapy for childhood depression?
In psychotherapy, family work is targeted first. In these therapies, family attitudes are observed, because changing family behavior is important for getting results. The mental health of the parents of the child with depression or the way the teacher treats the child is important at this stage.
The treatment team, the family and the teacher need to cooperate in this regard. It is important for the child to come to psychotherapy, but this should not be limited to the child alone, the family and the teacher should also participate.
