If your formerly happy child suddenly is shunning her friends, struggling in school or throwing constant tantrums, she might be facing bouts of depression. Childhood depression is not an uncommon condition, particularly among preteen children, and it could stem from any number of social stresses or even an inherited condition. Fortunately, it's a treatable condition, so a combination of therapy and medical treatment often will bring back the smiling child you knew.
Significance
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry estimates that at any given point in time, about 5 percent of children and adolescents are experiencing depression. While depression is rare in small children, it becomes much more common when children are between the ages of 9 and 12, according to Oregon-based clinical and medical psychologist Michael Connor. At that age, about 12 percent of children experience prolonged symptoms of depression. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that girls are twice as likely as boys to experience depression episodes lasting two weeks or more.
Causes
Childhood depression does not discriminate by race or financial background. It can stem from a chemical imbalance in the brain, with the brain not producing enough chemicals that provide a feeling of well-being, according to the Penn State Children's Hospital. A traumatic or disruptive event--such as the death of a relative, moving, divorce or trouble with grades or bullies at school--can also spur childhood depression. Heredity also is a factor. If someone in your family has had trouble with depression, your child is more likely to struggle with it.
Symptoms
It's normal for your child to feel sad on occasion. If this sadness affects his daily life--a decline in performance at school, withdrawing from friends or a sudden loss of interest in activities--this could be a sign of depression, according to the AACAP. Other symptoms can include constant crying, a change in appetite or sleeping habits, frequent and unexplained headaches or stomachaches or repeated emotional outbursts, according to Connor. Some depressed children might be able to repress their symptoms and act happy in public but show their symptoms at home.
Treatment
Before treatment, a mental health professional first will diagnose your child, by asking her questions and administering a test such as the Child Depression Inventory. Once diagnosed, treatment usually includes a combination of medication and therapy, according to Penn State Children's Hospital. Doctors often prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for children, which help correct chemical imbalances but are more mild than adult antidepressants. In more severe cases, doctors might prescribe stronger medication. Therapy also will depend on your child's needs and might be individual session, group sessions or sessions with your family.
Potential
Following a diagnosis, children with depression face a generally positive prognosis, according to Connor. Left untreated, however, childhood depression can lead to other problems, such as drug or alcohol abuse. Problems with depression also can continue into adulthood. Severe cases can even lead to suicide. While suicides in children 9 years old or younger are extremely rare, suicide is the third leading cause of death for children between the ages of 10 and 14, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
