The use of antidepressant drugs in children is a topic that does not always have a clear-cut recommendation. The National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) has found in studies that the benefits of antidepressant medications might outweigh the...
Children who suffer from depression that interferes with their daily functioning or sleep may require antidepressants to help them control their symptoms and resume normal daily activities. Prozac is an antidepressant that can help control major...
The experience of depression in children and teens is somewhat different than that of adults. Depression in childhood is more likely to lead to the continuation of depression in adulthood, as well as other, more serious mental illnesses. When...
While shifting from one mood to another may be common in adolescents, this also may be a sign a child is suffering from bipolar disorder. This condition, also called manic-depressive disorder, can affect you no matter what age you are. It can show...
Symptoms of childhood anxiety include worry, distress, anxiety, fear and panic. Four anxiety disorders affecting children include generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety and panic disorder. Symptoms range from mild to...
Making treatment decisions when you or a family member have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) can be overwhelming. Patients and caretakers today have an array of ADHD medication choices, all of which are designed to...
Adderall is often prescribed to patients suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and contains a blend of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, according to Drugs.com. The medication falls into the stimulant class of ADHD...
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that regulates sleeping patterns. The human body produces and secretes more melatonin during the dark evening hours and less during the day. Melatonin supplements may help improve the sleep of kids who...
Pristiq is the brand name for desvenlafaxine, an antidepressant related to Effexor. Indeed, some feel it was created because Effexor XR goes off patent in 2010. This medication is approved only for treatment of major depressive disorder. Wyeth had...
Approximately 20 percent of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood. Adolescent girls are twice as likely as boys to experience depression. While the core symptoms of depression, including feelings of persistent sadness, loss...
Depression is not a mood disorder that affects only adults. Jay L. Hoecker, a doctor at the Mayo Clinic, states that depression is as common in children as it is in adults. Statistics provided by the National Institute of Mental Health show that...
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that approximately five percent of children and adolescents suffer from depression at any given time. Every child experiences periods of time when he feels sad or blue, and that is...
Small amounts of anxiety are normal in a child; however, when the levels of anxiety become distressing, treatment may be needed. Medication is an option for children, but parents should be cautious before giving pharmaceuticals to a child. The...
When reviewing the effects of antidepressant drugs, it is important to consider both their positive effects and their negative effects. Medical professionals dub this the risk-benefit profile. Patients who are prescribed antidepressants should...
The effectiveness and safety of giving antidepressant medications to children is controversial, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that these medications may lead to greater risks of suicidal thoughts and actions, particularly in the...
In treating both anxiety and depression in children, the most commonly used medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are a type of antidepressant. Although generally found to be effective in treatment, the U.S. Food and Drug...
Depression is a serious mental health problem, affecting the patient's mood, behavior and cognitive functions. Depression can occur at any age, including during childhood. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that about 5...
The World Health Organization loosely defines psychotropic drugs as a group of medications that act on the central nervous system and affect mental processes or cognition. Psychotropic medications include antidepressants, stimulants,...
Although the stressors may be different, children and adolescents experience the same emotions as adults. According to the National Institute on Mental Health, 14.8 million adults are affected by depression each year. A study by Harvard University...
Children who suffer from depression feel sad, hopeless and worthless, have trouble concentrating, have issues eating and sleeping, feel tired regularly and isolate themselves from their peers. The good news, according to Kids Health, is that 80...
Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by behavior disabilities. The disorder affect boys more than girls. The Autism Society of America, which advocates for autism awareness and education, lists certain signs that indicate a child may...
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) was renamed to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 1994 according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. This disorder describes a group of behaviors that affect many adults and children. For...
Generic Wellbutrin (bupropion) is a medication used for the treatment of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), as well as to help people stop smoking. It belongs to a classification of drugs known as antidepressants. It may take a few...
A developmental disorder, autism causes children with the disorder to have social, behavioral and language-based symptoms. While treatment options are available for these symptoms, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that medications...
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed medication for children suffering anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. It's recommended that children with these disorders also receive therapy from a mental...
Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive worry or abnormal reactions to stress. Major types of anxiety disorders include social phobias, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic...
A new book is poised to shatter beliefs about the underlying causes of mental or behavioral health related disorders. Written by Mark Hyman, MD, it's called "The UltraMind Solution: Fix Your Broken Brain by Healing Your Body First." In the book,...
Depression is an equal opportunity ailment, plaguing both adults and children. The best thing to do if you suspect your child is depressed is to look for the symptoms and then take action, report both Mayo Clinic and Kids Health. The worst thing...
People who suffer from depression and other mental conditions such as anxiety and bipolar disorder take antidepressants to relieve the symptoms that prevent them from enjoying a full life. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians,...
