Depression in children: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment features. Does depression happen in children: how to recognize and what to do? Depression in young children

» is associated with adults as if only they were entitled to mood disorders. Unfortunately, depressive disorders also affect children and adolescents.

Depression in a child manifests somewhat differently than depressive states in adults, so it is more difficult to diagnose in younger patients.

The symptoms of childhood depression are non-specific and can be masked by taking on the clinical picture of other diseases.

Symptoms of depression in children

Depression can even appear in infants. This form is called anaclitic depression. As a rule, mood disorders develop after the sixth month of a baby's life, most often in children who were sent to educational institutions or a children's home, or were hospitalized for a long time after childbirth. The lack of emotional and physical closeness with the mother leads to the appearance of symptoms of childhood depression in the form of strong crying and screaming, lethargy and a “wax” face of the baby.

From year to year...

Depression can also be recognized in children aged 6-7 years. How does depression manifest itself in early school age? There may be various kinds of fears, problems at school, behavior that differs from developmental standards, significant mood swings - from extreme crying to complete calmness, indifference to one's needs and desires, unwillingness to play.

Depression in children can also be psychosomatic in nature and manifest itself in the form of various diseases, for example, abdominal pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, constipation, diarrhea. The child may suddenly stop growing, begin to lose weight or gain weight. Does not understand the meaning of life, avoids contact with peers and even thinks about death. Often there are suicide attempts.

Depression in children is manifested in the silhouette and appearance of the child - neglect of personal hygiene, indifference to clothing, hunched back, circles under the eyes, sad expression, anxiety, muscle tension.

The kid can close in his room, avoid movement, sleep poorly. Loses contact with the environment, parents, siblings, classmates. Becomes apathetic, lethargic, he constantly feels unwell.

What are the most common symptoms of childhood depression?

Inability to feel joy, sadness, depression.
Lack of a smile.
Loss of old interests.
Giving up your favorite games.
Apathy, psychosomatic slowdown, decreased vital activity.
Chronic fatigue, lack of energy.
Feeling of inner anxiety and restlessness.
Physical illnesses such as palpitations, abdominal pain and headache.
Extremely low self-esteem, feelings of inferiority and hopelessness.
Sleep disturbances, insomnia or excessive sleepiness during the day.
Decreased appetite and body weight, refusal of favorite foods.
Problems with concentration and memory, difficulties in school, deterioration in grades.

Depression in teenagers

The term "depression" has become entrenched in the minds of society exclusively as a condition of an adult, however, depressive states are experienced by both children and adolescents.

In adolescence, it very often leads to suicide attempts. Quarrel with parents or blackmail is not a demonstration of strength, but a manifestation of duality of feelings. Ignoring the words of the child about the meaninglessness of life, bad mood or unwillingness to act leads to serious consequences - the death of the child, which could have been avoided.

Why do children suffer from depression?

There are many reasons. Specialists distinguish, as a rule, genetic factors, biological, social, psychological and neural. Children can become ill with depression after the loss of a loved one - a father, mother, brother, sister, friend, beloved animal.

Depression can occur as a result of a change of place of residence, divorce of parents, poverty, dissatisfaction with the emotional needs of the child, etc. There are frequent cases of non-reactive depression, i.e. not the result of a traumatic event.

A large proportion of young patients suffer from endogenous depression, which is caused by biological factors, such as disturbances in the level of neurotransmitters. Sometimes children inherit parental affective disorders when the mother or father complains of depression, creating an image of a negative attitude towards life and the world through their behavior.

How is depression treated in children?

Until recently, doctors believed that preschoolers were still too underdeveloped psyche to feel the symptoms of depression. Unfortunately, it turns out that they can.

Depressive disorders are in their case genetically determined, and for their appearance, often no traumatic event is even required. Since symptoms can differ significantly from the commonly accepted features of depression in adults, making a diagnosis presents great challenges and is vital for effective management of the disorder.

Dr. Joan Klube, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Washington, DC, has been researching depression for 20 years. Already in the mid-1980s, doctors found out that some children going to school already had clinical symptoms of depression.

Over the past 10 years, researchers have come to the conclusion that symptoms of depression may be much younger than previously thought. Fortunately, this phenomenon is not common. It follows from the analysis that the problem may concern 1-2% of preschool children.

What causes symptoms to appear at such a young age? Scientists believe that this is not necessarily due to the occurrence of stress in a child's life. Depression in children is most often a hereditary disease that develops independently of traumatic or unpleasant events.

By nature, children are prone to frequent mood swings and hence the identification of symptoms requires more careful observation. Symptoms may come and go, however, if the process lasts longer than two weeks or worsens significantly, you should contact a specialist.

Treatment of childhood depression

How to deal with depression in a child

When you see that something disturbing is happening to your baby, sit down and calmly talk about his trouble. Give him more time than usual, observe and ask why he is so sad and depressed. What worries him? What can't he handle?

When a child blames himself for something he is not guilty of, reassure him that he is not responsible for it. Do not yell at your child because of poor grades in school, difficulty concentrating. Do not underestimate the long-term ill health of the child. When you do not know how to cope with the problem on your own, seek the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist. You can talk about this topic with a psychologist or school teacher.

If the baby suffers from clinical forms of depression treatment needs to be started. As a rule, it is based on pharmacotherapy in the form of antidepressants and psychotherapy. Only severe forms of depression with suicide attempts require hospitalization. However, sometimes children are placed in a psychiatric hospital when there is a lack of understanding of the illness and parental support for the child.

Psychological intervention, as a rule, gives fairly quickly visible results and, above all, reduces the likelihood of “complications” of depression in the form of feelings of inferiority, reduced immunity, or suicidal thoughts. It should be noted that the effects of psychotherapy largely depend on the attitude of parents towards a sick child.

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Depression in a child in the diagnostic sense means a mental illness, the main criterion of which is emotional disturbances. Depression is often perceived by both the child and parents as a manifestation of laziness, bad character, selfishness, natural pessimism. Parents should remember that depression is not just a bad mood, it is a disease that needs to be treated by specialists. The sooner a child is diagnosed and appropriately treated appropriately, the greater the chance of a quick recovery. Today, doctors have a large set of various methods of psychotherapy, herbal medicine, physiotherapy, thanks to which a depressive state is removed.

For a long time, psychiatrists argued: is a child capable of experiencing depressive manifestations? After all, a feeling of longing, sadness, a decrease in general tone, a weakening of interests, lethargy and withdrawal from contacts are signs characteristic of adult depression. In children, it is difficult to isolate such manifestations because of their vagueness, as well as the child’s inability to talk in detail about his emotional experiences.

Depression in children and adolescents is often masked and includes anxiety, school failure, health concerns, and disrupted relationships with peers and loved ones.

Causes of Depression in Children

The following factors contribute to the development of depression:

Family climate: conflicts in the family, single-parent family, overprotection by mothers, complete lack of parental care, lack of sexual education on the part of parents. Often, in single-parent families, children cannot tell their parents about personal problems, this applies to families where, for example, a father is raising a daughter. Frequent conflicts in the family make the child think that he is a burden and life would be easier without him. The presence of maternal overprotection does not give the baby the opportunity to adapt to society and the environment, and without the lack of proper support, children become helpless. The lack of sex education can negatively affect the teenager, which will lead to isolation;

Pathology in the early neonatal period: intrauterine fetal hypoxia, the presence of neonatal encephalopathy, the birth of children with asphyxia, intrauterine infections leading to brain damage;

Structural and hormonal restructuring of the body in adolescence (in girls, the appearance of menstruation, in boys, nocturnal emissions); change in body shape, the appearance of youthful acne. An excess of hormones makes children more aggressive, leaders appear among teenagers who dictate their lifestyle. In case of not matching this particular image, the teenager drops out of this communication group, which leads him to alienation, as well as the appearance of thoughts that he is not like everyone else;

Frequent change of residence does not allow the child to have time to make friends with whom he would spend all his free time and share secrets;

Problems with learning, as well as lagging behind in the school curriculum, alienates from peers, making mentally vulnerable;

Advances in technology - computerization and the Internet - have united the whole world, narrowing it down to a computer monitor, which has had a very bad effect on the ability to communicate.

Depression can also develop due to exposure to chronic or acute stress (serious illness or death of loved ones, family breakup, conflicts with peers, quarrels with loved ones, etc.), or it can occur against the background of complete social and physical well-being, which, associated with disturbances in the course of biochemical processes in the brain. Such depressions include, for example -.

Among other reasons for the development of depression is the collapse of ideals and illusions, a feeling of powerlessness and helplessness in the face of insurmountable difficulties.

The causes of depression can be severe mental trauma, overexertion, impaired brain metabolism, headaches, inadequate intake of sugars, allergies, diseases of the stomach, thyroid gland, malnutrition, mononucleosis. In almost 50% of children with depression, both or one parent had recurring episodes of depression.

Symptoms of depression in a child

Adolescence is most susceptible to depression. Psychologists distinguish early depression (12-13 years old), middle depression (13-16 years old), late depression (over 16 years old).

The depressive state manifests itself as a classic triad of symptoms: decreased mobility, decreased mood, decreased thinking.

During the day, the decrease in mood occurs unevenly. Often in the morning the mood is upbeat, the children are quite willing to go to school. Then the mood gradually decreases and the peak of the reduced mood occurs in the evening. Children are not happy with anything, they are not interested, they have a headache, occasionally their body temperature rises. They complain about constant problems at school, conflicts with students and teachers. Even in good things, they see only negative aspects. Children also have flashes of a very good mood when they have fun, joke, however, this mood does not last long - no more than an hour and then again gives way to a decrease in mood.

A decrease in mobility is noticed by the unwillingness to move: children either constantly sit in one position or lie down. Physical labor is of no interest. Speech is quiet, and the thought process is slow. It is difficult for children to find the necessary words, it is problematic to answer questions immediately, often they answer with only one nod of the head. In children, there is an obsession with one thought with a negative connotation: everything is bad with me or no one loves me. Children lose their appetite, they refuse to eat, sometimes they do not eat for several days. They sleep little, because they are worried about insomnia due to fixation on one thought that interferes with the process of falling asleep. The sleep itself is restless, superficial, not allowing the body to fully rest.

Thoughts of suicide do not appear immediately, often for their occurrence it takes a long period of the course of the disease (more than a year). Children are not limited to the thought of suicide, they come up with a plan of action, think through various options. This course of depression is the most dangerous, because it can lead to death. All of these experiences represent the nature of excruciating suffering, causing disturbances in interpersonal relationships and leading to a decrease in social activity. The symptomatology of the disease is revealed mainly in behavior: the child's activity changes, interest in friends, games, studies disappears, misunderstanding and whims begin. Often a difficult situation can be a trigger for the onset of depression. Despite the rather specific picture of this condition, it can be very difficult for parents and doctors to understand the essence of the child's problems and understand his illness. This is due to the fact that, due to their age, children cannot give a clear description of their condition.

So, the symptoms of depression include:

Decreased mood for most of the day, feeling of emptiness, melancholy, depression;

Loss of interest and complete indifference to all previous activities, to study, hobbies;

The addition or decrease in body weight of the child;

Sleep disturbance (the child either does not fall asleep in the evening for a long time, or falls asleep, but often wakes up during the night);

Psychomotor inhibition or agitation;

Prolonged loss of appetite;

State of impotence, daily fatigue;

Feelings of shame, concern, guilt;

Decreased ability to concentrate and think (the child is often distracted, it is difficult for him to concentrate);

Changes in behavior (not wanting to communicate).

Signs of depression in a child

From a psychoanalytic point of view, the hallmark of depression is dysregulation. Depression often develops in children's personalities with unstable. The basis for development is the lack of acceptance, as well as emotional understanding on the maternal side.

A sign of a depressive state is a decrease in thinking and an inability to complete homework assignments. Schoolchildren experience a feeling of rustiness, inhibition of mental processes.

Doctors unsuccessfully made repeated attempts to find out which of the components of the symptom complex: intellectual delay, or psychomotor retardation is primary and underlies the disease. A constant component of a depressive mood is anxiety of varying intensity: from mild anxiety to uncertainty and tension of pronounced agitation.

Depressive mood is a complex formation: the sick person experiences helplessness, depression, hopelessness, overt or covert anxiety, despair, internal tension, uncertainty, loss of interest, insensitivity.

When the mood is normal, it consists of several, and sometimes of multidirectional emotions. In a healthy person, mood is the result of many influences, as well as causes: a feeling of cheerfulness and fatigue, physical health or malaise, pleasant and sad events. In healthy people, the mood is to some extent exposed to external influences: it improves with good news and deteriorates with unpleasant events, and a painfully altered depressive mood is determined by intense, prolonged.

Today, being a serious health problem, it often remains without parental and medical attention. This disease causes suffering and pain not only to those who are sick, but also to parents. Unfortunately, most parents still view depression in children and adolescents as a sign of weakness.

Depression in a child - how to help? Clarification of the diagnosis necessarily includes a consultation with a psychiatrist. Psychologists work in schools and, if necessary, you can turn to them for advice. A school psychologist will help to avoid the development of severe symptoms and will give the student the opportunity to speak out about the sore.

First of all, you should talk with the child, be interested in his life, problems at school;

It is necessary to be interested in what their child does after school, what kind of friends he has;

It is necessary to pay attention to how much time the child is not engaged in any business. For some children, this is laziness, but a lazy child may be bribed with gifts and forced to do something, and a child with depression is not happy and not interested in anything: neither encouragement nor gifts.

Treating depression in a child

The child himself is not able to get out of a depressive state, so the task of adults is to seek medical help in a timely manner. Severe cases with the expression of suicidal thoughts, as well as the presence of a specific plan for ending life, are indications for treatment in a hospital: in the department of borderline conditions.

Mild forms of the disease are treated at home. Throughout the course of treatment, the child can live a normal life: do housework, go to school, go shopping.

Of the medical preparations in pediatric practice, Adaptol has proven itself well. This medicine is well tolerated, does not cause drowsiness, and has no side effects. Adaptol improves mood, normalizes sleep, develops resistance to psycho-emotional stress, relieves somatic manifestations - pain, and normalizes temperature.

What to do if a child has depression? In the treatment of mild forms of depression, you can use a homeopathic remedy - Tenoten, which reduces anxiety, improves sleep, normalizes appetite, normalizes memory, and improves concentration. In severe cases, antidepressants are prescribed, which are used under the supervision of a doctor.

However, no treatment for depression will be effective without positive changes in the family. Parents need to accept the child: his aspirations and needs, as well as help, develop the ability to express feelings, teach step by step to cope with difficulties, problems and constructively influence the current situation. For preventive purposes, the child should be in the fresh air as often as possible, not overwork and rest in a timely manner.

Doctor of the Medical and Psychological Center "PsychoMed"

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and cannot replace professional advice and qualified medical assistance. At the slightest suspicion that your child has depression, be sure to consult a doctor!

Psychosis, neurosis, depression have recently become frequent companions of children. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, one can not hope that the child will grow up with a healthy psyche and nervous system. Despite this, every parent wants to do everything to make his child happy, not tormented. Childhood depression is a psycho-emotional disorder that manifests itself in the form of somatic and behavioral symptoms. For some, the disease first makes itself felt before the age of 3, but adolescents are most worried. Some in serious condition end their lives by suicide. How to warn? How dangerous is she?

Causes of depression at an early age (before 3 years)

The following factors can provoke a mental disorder:

Fetal hypoxia, intrauterine infection.
Congenital pathologies -, birth asphyxia, problematic childbirth.
Severe illness in early childhood.
Hereditary pathology associated with a neurological disorder.
Severe adaptation to kindergarten. At this time, the child loses the feeling that he is protected and safe, so depression develops.
Problems in the family - parents abuse alcohol, violence, aggression, constant scandals.

If the first causes are biological, they are associated with impaired brain function, they often disturb young children. The last reasons are psychological. Due to constant scandals, unhealthy atmosphere in the family, the child is afraid of loud sounds, this is a powerful stress for the baby.

Symptoms in young children

Parents should suspect something is wrong in such cases:

Appetite decreases, frequent vomiting worries, the baby spits up.
There are problems with weight.
Slow movements, slow motor skills.
Psycho-emotional, general development is delayed.
The child shows his own, constantly crying.

Important! If you notice these symptoms in a child, contact a therapist and a neurologist.

Why does childhood depression occur between the ages of 3 and 7?

When a child grows up, he undergoes significant changes in the psyche. At this time, various factors can influence:

Family upbringing.
Socialization in a preschool institution.
, thinking.
Somatic causes - many different ailments.

As a rule, parents notice the bad mood of the child. Preschoolers show the following symptoms:

Violated motor activity, energy is lost. If the child used to constantly play, gave preference to certain types of activities, then during depression he refuses everything.
Sadness, crying, boredom.
, there is a fear of loneliness.
There are many somatic ailments - pain in the abdomen, body aches, a headache.

As a rule, all causes accumulate together. Some children become depressed after their parents divorce. It happens that at first the child has biological causes - a perinatal disorder, and after a while he experiences severe stress and becomes depressed.

Problems in primary school age (6 - 12 years old)

After the child goes to school, he has to adapt to society and learning. It is especially difficult for children who are used to being the best. Their parents do everything for them. When an egoist child enters the classroom, he must adhere to the rules of society, and this is very difficult.

In this case, the academic load, problems with teachers, peers join the family, biological reasons for the development of childhood depression. As a rule, at the age of 10, children begin to realize their feelings, tell their parents about sadness, longing,.

Pay attention to the following symptoms:

Physical disorders: headache, weakness, severe dizziness, pain and aching muscles.
Behavioral signs: lack of interest in life, "the child withdraws into himself", becomes vulnerable. At 11 years old, children can get angry, get very irritated, become quick-tempered.
Cognitive impairment: problems with attention, children cannot concentrate, remember educational material.

The danger of teen depression

After the age of 12, children have to go through hormonal changes in the body. Here, different emotional ties with the opposite sex, friends may appear. Due to the fact that a teenager is trying to know his "I", a number of contradictions and conflicts arise. In addition, a teenager must decide on a future profession.

Depression can be provoked by the first serious relationship, conflicts with peers, misunderstanding of parents. The teenager behaves extremely aggressively, he is angry, irritated.

It is dangerous when teenagers have thoughts of suicide. Parents should be extremely careful, behave carefully, not aggravate the condition of their children.

Do you notice that your child has completely changed? Contacted with a bad company? Do you suspect that you use drugs, alcohol? Urgently examine him, consult a psychotherapist, additionally go to an endocrinologist.

Treatment Methods

Only complex therapy will help to achieve a positive result. Here you need:

Medical treatment.
Additional procedures - physiotherapy, reflexology.
Timely treatment of somatic disorders.

The main method will still be psychotherapy. For adolescents, it is of particular importance; it is additionally recommended to attend family psychotherapy sessions.

So, childhood depression is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Pay close attention to all the experiences of your children. Peace must reign in the family. It is very important to raise children in care, love, and not in anger, scandals, aggression. Do not injure the psyche of your children, their state of mind may affect their later adult life. Take care of the mental health of the child, give him a happy and cheerful childhood. Be good parents!

Considering the issue of depression in a child becomes strange. Childhood is considered to be the most carefree and pleasant period of life. In fact, there are many situations that confirm the presence of childhood depression. There are many causes, as well as treatments that help in eliminating the symptoms and signs of the disease.

In rare cases, we are talking about the genetic predisposition of the child to depression. Often, a depressed mood is a consequence of some factors that are noted in the life of a child. This allows you to quickly cure children from a depressive disorder, which negatively affects their academic performance, mental development, formation, etc.

Parents play the most important role in treating children for depression. In most cases, psychologists note an error in parenting or behavior, which leads to a child. Since babies are not able to resist their mothers and fathers, it is adults who must take responsibility for creating comfortable conditions for their children.

A favorable environment in the family is the key to the healthy development of the child, despite the fact that dangers and unpleasant situations will lie in wait for him in the big world.

What is depression in a child?

Regardless of what is considered a disorder that manifests itself in children, it is the same mental disorder as in adults. What is depression in a child? This is a psychological disorder that manifests itself in the form of emotional disturbances. Inattentive parents and teachers may mistake depression for laziness, selfishness, bad temper, or pessimism. In fact, what others see is only a symptom of unrecognized depression.

Depression is not understood by the child himself. He is not yet familiar with it and cannot independently understand what harm it causes him. That is why the responsibility for identifying and seeking psychological help is shifted to parents and teachers / caregivers. These are adults who are constantly in contact with the child, should recognize depression in his bad mood.

The sooner childhood depression is treated, the sooner the child will return to a healthy mental state. The process is reversible. And it happens as quickly as soon as the parents provided the child with psychological help. Parents can get preliminary advice on recognition and support on the website of the psychological help website. In some cases, parents can provide the child with the very support that will be enough for the recovery of the child.

To date, psychotherapists have numerous methods for ridding a child of depression. In most cases, only psychotherapy without medication is prescribed.

Many readers may not believe that children develop depressive disorders. This misconception puts their children in a dangerous position, because the kids themselves are not able to understand what is happening to them and ask for help, and adults do not believe in the depressive state that the child develops. Inappropriate behavior of parents allows depression to worsen, which soon results in such natural symptoms as:

Yearning.
Decreased activity.
Contact avoidance.
Lethargy.
Sadness.
Weakening of interests.

The older the child gets, the more he masks his depression in various ways, because adults do not perceive it adequately and can even punish for it. Developing here:

Failure at school.
Aggressive behavior.
Closure.
Anxiety.
Broken relationships with peers.
Various fears and complexes.

Causes of depression in a child

Parents may be interested in the question of why a child develops depression. Let's try to identify common reasons:

An unfavorable family environment in which the baby cannot fully develop: an incomplete family, conflicts in the family, authoritarian upbringing or overprotection, a complete lack of parental attention and sexual education. For example, a child cannot express himself because he is constantly limited in everything, cannot discuss his puberty, or does not have the opportunity to receive support from adults.
Genetic or congenital pathologies: encephalopathy, brain damage at birth, fetal hypoxia during the prenatal period, intrauterine infections, birth asphyxia, etc.
Physiological and hormonal changes. We are talking about adolescence, when girls begin menstruation, and guys have nocturnal emissions. Hormones make children more aggressive. This is where the team becomes important. If a child does not develop relationships with peers, this makes him think about his own inferiority.
Failure at school. Children still care about the area to which they devote a lot of time.
Frequent moves. This can lead to a lack of friends in the child.
Narrowing of interests and communication to sitting at the computer. The Internet provides many opportunities where the child can be whoever he wants. However, this significantly limits his physical and mental development, when he has little real communication with people, does not know the world around him, etc.
Seasonality of mood. Children may also experience autumn or spring depression, which can be associated with unpleasant events that occur during this period in their lives.
Stress. Children face many stressful situations that are different from adults. These include the divorce of parents, conflicts in the family, the death of a loved one, the betrayal of a friend, etc.
The collapse of illusions and ideals. Often parents surround the child with various false ideas about the world, for example, they talk about the existence of Santa Claus. If a child is faced with a situation where his beliefs do not work, he may become depressed. The stress of shattering ideals and illusions is shocking.
genetic predisposition. It is noted in families where parents suffer from deep depressive disorders.
Mental injury or stress.
Physiological causes: headaches, metabolic disorders, allergies, improper sugar intake, malnutrition, diseases of the stomach or thyroid gland, mononucleosis.

Symptoms of depression in children

Depression in children is manifested by the same triad of symptoms as in adults:

Little activity.
Decreased thinking.
Depressed mood.

You should be attentive to the behavior of your child. Any changes should be noted. If you experience symptoms of depression, seek help immediately. Pay attention to the following:

The child is rapidly gaining or losing weight.
The child is in a depressed mood for most of the day, yearns, is depressed, feels empty.
In the behavior of the child, lethargy or agitation is noted.
The child has ceased to be interested in previous activities and hobbies.
The child has a sleep disorder: he either cannot fall asleep for a long time, or quickly falls asleep, but often wakes up.
The child seems tired and powerless.
The child does not touch the food, which is noted in several episodes.
The child looks preoccupied, guilty, bashful.
The child becomes inattentive, absent-minded, "tight" thinks.
The child loses the desire to communicate.
Ideas and themes about suicide, death, etc. arise when communicating with the child.

In the morning, the child can feel good and cheerful. However, during the day the mood falls, which is very noticeable in the evening hours. The child complains about various problems in relations with classmates, friends, school performance, etc. He may talk about the presence of headaches. If his mood rises, it does not last long.

The child's mobility also decreases. He prefers to lie or sit in one position. His speech becomes quiet, short, without the use of a variety of words. It is difficult for him to answer questions, to think, even to fantasize.

Thoughts of suicide occur only after a long time since the onset of depression. The danger lies in the fact that the child may try to carry out his idea, especially if some traumatic event occurs in his life, which will become a trigger.

Signs of depression in children

Difficulties in communicating with other children and loved ones.
Changing eating and sleeping habits.
Difficulties in performing duties and daily activities.
Difficulty communicating with elders.
The appearance of low self-esteem.
Poor academic performance and absenteeism from school.
Irritation and anger.
Forgetfulness and inattention.
Addiction to alcohol or drugs.
Loss of interest in previous hobbies and socializing with friends.
Feelings of guilt and self-doubt.
Pessimism and constant sadness.
Lethargy, lack of enthusiasm.
inadequate response to criticism.
The appearance of a toothache or headache.
The appearance of hopelessness, depression, helplessness, anxiety.

The appearance of panic attacks and hallucinations against the background of insomnia can lead to the last stage of depression - suicide. If the child does not get help, then irreparable things can happen. Parents should be aware of the following:

The risk group includes adolescents from 15 to 24 years old and children from 5 to 14 years old.
In a state of depression, the occurrence of thoughts of suicide increases 30 times.
Before committing suicide, a person suddenly becomes very cheerful: this suggests that the decision to kill himself has already been made, which relieves stress.
Adolescents who use alcohol and drugs are more likely to commit suicide.

In addition to signs of depression, parents should pay attention to communication with the child. This can significantly reduce depression and its manifestations. If you need help, you can start by contacting a school psychologist. Otherwise, you will need specialized psychiatric help.

Treating Depression in Children

Severe depressive states are treated exclusively in a stationary mode under the supervision of a psychiatrist. Only mild forms of depression in children can be treated at home. How exactly this will happen should be controlled by a child psychologist who can prescribe Adaptol, a mood-improving drug that relieves drowsiness, increases appetite and mood, and relieves somatic symptoms.

Other medicines can be:

Tenoten is a homeopathic medicine.
Antidepressants that are prescribed only by a doctor.

The child continues to lead a normal life, while undergoing treatment. He goes to school, to the store for shopping, does household chores, etc. The most important thing here is the behavior of the parents, who should create favorable conditions for the child in their family?

Accept the needs and opinions of the child.
Raise his self-esteem.
Allow your feelings to be expressed.
Learn how to solve difficult problems.
Learn how to deal constructively with difficult situations.
Do not overwork with various tasks and work.
Allow to rest.
Allow to walk outdoors.

Together with a psychologist, the child learns to solve his problems that bother him. His emotional background and general mood are restored due to various methods: art therapy, music therapy, role-playing games, etc. It will be useful to take group classes, where the psychologist will work with his parents together with the child.

Outcome

Childhood depression is no less dangerous than an adult. The result can be sad if parents ignore the condition of their child - we are talking about suicide. In order not to lead to a fatal ending, attention should be paid to communication and activities with the child.

Parents should be aware that one in 33 children develops depression. Children who are in a traumatic situation, under psychological pressure or have an attention disorder become prone to it. After recovering from a deep depression, the child can again fall into it if an appropriate stressful situation arises within 5 years.

Psycho-emotional disorders are getting younger every year. This is due to the general neuroticization of the world's population. Neurosis, psychosis, depression have become constant companions of the inhabitants of large cities, so it is difficult to expect that our generation can raise children with a completely healthy nervous system and psyche. And yet, every parent wants to know what he can do for the well-being of his beloved child.

Childhood depression is one of the types of psycho-emotional disorders that are expressed in a child in certain behavioral and somatic symptoms. This disease can appear at a very early age (up to 3 years), but more often and most clearly manifests itself in adolescence. This is the reason for the increasing number of suicides among teenagers.

Depression in children manifests itself in different ways, through different symptoms, depending on the age of the child and the causes of the disease. Difficulties in diagnosing this disease in early, preschool and primary school age arise because up to 10-12 years old the child is not yet fully aware of himself and his feelings, and cannot characterize his condition as "sadness, sadness, melancholy" . In these age groups, childhood depression is more often expressed through somatic symptoms, that is, various kinds of physical ailments in a child. This only leads to long and ineffective visits to doctors, and, alas, to the consolidation of the disease in the psyche and nervous system of the baby.

How to recognize the disease in time? What might cause it? How to prevent the transition of the disease to the chronic stage? The answers to these questions vary depending on the age of the child. Let's take a closer look at each age category.

Most often, depression occurs on psychological grounds, but in children under 3 years old, more significant reasons are required for the occurrence of such a disease:

Pathologies of intrauterine development (intrauterine fetal hypoxia, intrauterine infections, etc.).
Pathological, problematic childbirth or congenital disorders (birth asphyxia, neonatal encephalopathy, etc.).
Severe diseases transferred at an early age.
Hereditary causes, when some family members suffered from mental or neurological disorders.
Breaking the emotional connection with the mother (due to placement in an orphanage or for another reason), the child loses a sense of security and security.
Severe, significantly disturbed family environment in which the child grows up (alcoholization of parents, noisy scandals in the house, aggression and violence in the family).

The first four reasons can be conditionally called biological. As a result of any of them, a certain disturbance in the functioning of the brain can occur, and as a result, depression occurs in young children. The last two reasons can be conditionally considered psychological, but in fact, due to age, the child feels them physically (for example, during scandals in the family, a young child suffers and his development is disturbed primarily because the fear of loud sounds is innate, and such a stressor too powerful for a baby).

Symptoms of depression in a young child may include:

loss of appetite, frequent vomiting and regurgitation;
delay in weight gain;
motor retardation, slowness of movements;
symptoms of delay in general and psycho-emotional development;
tearfulness, capriciousness.

In the presence of such symptoms, a pediatrician and a pediatric neuropathologist should examine the baby and prescribe treatment.

Preschool age: from 3 to 6-7 years

The child grows, and his psyche becomes more complicated, it is influenced by an increasing number of factors - the family atmosphere, the first experience of socialization (going to preschool institutions), the avalanche-like development of thinking and speech that occurs during this period. And the signs (symptoms) of the disease at this age already look different, very often manifest themselves somatically (through various ailments). From the child it is already possible to understand his mood, and although he himself is not yet aware of this, attentive parents can notice violations in this area.

In preschool age, depression in a child manifests itself through the following symptoms:

impaired motor activity, reduced tone, lack of energy, loss of interest in favorite games and activities;
desire for solitude, avoidance of contacts;
sadness, while the child is aware of this as “bored and wants to cry”;
fears of darkness, loneliness, death;
stingy facial expressions, quiet voice, "senile gait";
various somatic ailments (abdominal pain, indigestion, body aches, headaches).

As for the causes of the disease, it is important to understand that they can accumulate gradually. Yes, the psychological and social causes of stress come into play in preschool age. But this does not mean that a child at this age can get depression only on this basis (for example, after the parents divorce). It is possible that there was a biological cause of depression before (for example, perinatal disorders), but the child's body coped with it in the early stages. And after the addition of psychological reasons, the development of depression started. Therefore, it is important to conduct high-quality diagnostics and be sure to undergo an examination by a neurologist for depression in a child of any age.

Thus, in preschool age, in addition to the causes that cause depression up to 3 years, the disease can also be caused by the following:

psychological reasons. The fundamental of them at this age is the family atmosphere, the style of education. A child who grows up in a harmonious atmosphere with an effective educational model receives a kind of immunity to any neurotic disorders. Parents lay the foundation of calmness and self-confidence for him, he is much less prone to stress. Another thing is if there are scandals in the family, parents are on the verge of divorce, and the child is brought up with the help of screaming and physical strength. Such an environment leads to neuroticization of even the most neurologically stable organism.
social reasons. The child enters the period of formation of social relations, begins to visit the children's team, experiences a conflict between his desires and the need to take into account the desires and requirements of others.

The most susceptible to depression are melancholic children, with a weak and unstable nervous system. But even such a child can be helped to improve their mental health.

If symptoms of depression appear in a child aged 3 to 6-7 years, consultations and joint help from a number of specialists are needed:

Consultation of a pediatrician – for general examination and standard examinations and analyses.
Consultations of specialized specialists, based on the physical symptoms of the disease (for example, if a child complains of pain in the stomach, a consultation with a pediatric gastroenterologist is necessary). This is necessary to exclude the presence of really serious somatic diseases.
Consultation of a pediatric neurologist - to determine whether there are biological reasons for the development of the disease, whether the child's brain and nervous system are normally developed and functioning.
With the exclusion of other disorders, and the diagnosis of depression - treatment by a child psychotherapist.

A key role in this age group is the cooperation of the family with a child or family psychologist (psychotherapist). Creating a favorable psychoclimate in the family and a harmonious model of education can solve the lion's share of neurotic problems in a preschool child.

The list of specialists whose consultation may be required is similar to the previous age group.

Junior school age: from 6-7 to 12 years

With admission to school, the social and educational load of the child increases significantly. In the classroom, the child learns to express himself among peers, in school - to set goals and achieve them, to obey the rules.

The old causes that can cause neuroticism remain in force - biological, family. But new ones are added to them - a standardized study load (without taking into account the psychotype of the child and his characteristics), problems in relations with peers and with the teacher. Also during this period, the child begins to form his goals and try to achieve them. Failure in this also breeds neuroticism.

Closer to the age of 10, depression in children is diagnosed more often, and its psychological symptoms begin to be recognized by the child: he feels and says that he is sad, sad, does not want anything. Symptoms of depression at this age may include:

Physical ailments: general weakness, headaches and dizziness, pains of various localization (stomach, heart, muscle pains), body aches.
Psychological and behavioral symptoms: sadness, melancholy, apathy, lack of interest in playing and studying, avoiding contacts with peers, tearfulness, vulnerability. Closer to the age of 12, depression in children and adolescents also begins to manifest itself as reactions of anger, irascibility, irritability. This is due to the hormonal processes of the body.
Cognitive (cognitive) disorders: distracted attention, inability to concentrate, problems in mastering educational material.

Adolescence: 12 years to adulthood

There is a hormonal restructuring of the body, which in itself causes mood swings in the child. The first serious emotional connections arise in the outside world - with friends and the opposite sex, failures in this field are perceived very hard. Attempts to realize oneself, one's "I", one's place in the world give rise to a lot of internal conflicts and contradictions. In parallel with this, the teaching load is growing significantly, and the question of future professionalization arises.

For the first time in all childhood, it is not relationships in the family that come to the fore, but the interaction of the child with his peers, with equals. Their authority during this period is often more important than parental. But do not forget that a favorable psychological climate in the family and acceptance from the parents remain with the child for many years, forming a solid ground on which your child can always lean and feel confident.

Symptoms of the disease may be the same as in the previous age group. But significant mood swings, anger, irritability are added to them.

It is in this age group that most thoughts of death and suicide attempts occur. At the same time, it is important to understand that such manifestations are an extreme degree of a severe form of depression that has formed over several months or even years. Therefore, be attentive to your child, because if you seek help in a timely manner, many problems can be avoided.

The list of specialists to whom you need to contact for examination and help is similar to the previous age group, only an adolescent doctor is already acting instead of a pediatrician. Also, an endocrinologist consultation may be additionally required, depending on the symptoms.

Treating Depression in Children

Treatment of depression in children should be comprehensive, and take into account the age of the child, the duration and severity of the disease, its symptoms. Treatment methods can be:

Drug treatment - only as prescribed by a doctor.
Auxiliary procedures - reflexology, physiotherapy, etc.
Treatment of concomitant somatic disorders in specialized specialists.
Psychotherapy is the main method of treatment of any neurotic disorders. For a child, it becomes relevant from 3 years and older, and is most important in adolescence. The maximum cooperation of the family with the specialist is important, the best option is family psychotherapy.
Creation of favorable physical and mental conditions for the life of the child (from the daily routine and nutrition to relationships within the family).