Depression in childhood and adolescence

Major depressive disorder, often simply referred to as depression, is a mental disorder characterized by prolonged unhappiness or irritability. It is accompanied by a constellation of somatic and cognitive signs and symptoms such as fatigue, apathy, sleep problems, loss of appetite, loss of engagement, low self-regard/worthlessness, difficulty concentrating or indecisiveness, or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Depression in childhood and adolescence is similar to adult major depressive disorder, although young sufferers may exhibit increased irritability or behavioral discontrol instead of the more common sad, empty, or hopeless feelings that are seen with adults.^[1] Children who are under stress, experiencing loss or grief, or have other underlying disorders are at a higher risk for depression. Childhood depression is often comorbid with mental disorders outside of other mood disorders, most commonly anxiety disorder and conduct disorder. Highlighting the pivotal role of adolescence and young adulthood, the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 75 percent of mental health disorders commence by age 24, emphasizing the urgency of addressing youth mental health challenges.^[2][3] Depression also tends to run in families.^[4] In a 2016 Cochrane review,^[5] cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), third-wave CBT and interpersonal therapy demonstrated small positive benefits in the prevention of depression.^[6] Psychologists have developed different treatments to assist children and adolescents suffering from depression, though the legitimacy of the diagnosis of childhood depression as a psychiatric disorder, as well as the efficacy of various methods of assessment and treatment, remains controversial.