Depression

Depression in children and adolescents

Depression is a mood disorder (mood) cause children and teenagers to feel sad or be irritated for a long time. A young man, pressed play, not about the school and with friends and perhaps a lack of energy or other symptoms. As adults, symptoms range from mild to severe depression and one person to another. may take a long time and may have a cyclical, with periods of illness, followed by the periods without symptoms. Chronic depression, dysthymia and mild form called, occurs when a child feels most of the period of one year or more defeats. Both minor and severe forms of depression can be treated effectively.
Until recently it was believed that only adults suffer from depression, while children and adolescents do not. We now know that even small children can cause severe forms of depression that require treatment for healing. However, the symptoms of depression in children and adolescents are difficult to detect. Symptoms range from abdominal pain and boredom can be confused with symptoms of other diseases. Many children and adolescents with depression do not receive adequate treatment for the symptoms is not known. Changes in mood and emotional changes caused by depression can go unnoticed, as unimportant or affected the normal growth.

In the past, consider that depression is “all in the mind” and that the depressed person in a position to recover for himself. Today we know that depression is a disease requires that the treatment is and is not a defect or weakness. Childhood and adolescence is difficult in children with depression and members of the family, especially if the illness is not treated. If left untreated, serious depression can be a year or more. A severe or prolonged depression can cause problems such as difficulties with other friends and maintaining friendships, difficulties in school, substance abuse, suicidal behavior and other problems that may extend into adulthood. turned to professional help if your parents find this behavior in depression in children.

depression as an imbalance of certain chemicals called neurotransmitters that send messages between brain nerve cells transmit. Some of these substances, like serotonin helps regulate mood. When these chemicals to regulate mood, leading to an imbalance in the nerve cells in the brain, causing depression or mood swings. The experts are not on the neurotransmitter imbalance that occurs is set. They believe that changes occur as a result of stress or illness, but can occur without apparent cause

depression

family members. Children and adolescents who have a parent with depression are three times higher risk for depression than those whose parents n have no depression. Experts estimate that the characteristics of both families (genetic) inherited and lived with a parent who has depression may increase the risk of depression in children.
depression in children and adolescents may due to stress, unresolved social problems and family conflicts. It may also be associated with the trauma, such as violence, abuse or neglect.
children and adolescents who have serious illnesses advanced medical learning disabilities or behavioral problems are more easily depressed. Some medications can
depression, such as steroids or drugs administered for pain trigger. Once the drugs are discontinued symptoms usually disappear

factors that increase the risk of depression in young

Several factors increase the risk of depression in adolescents.
- If a parent or close family member suffers from depression: is the factor most important risk factor for depression (Children or adolescents who have a parent with depression are three times more likely than depressed)
- if they have a depressive episode , especially if the first depressive episode occurred at a young age
- If you have chronic diseases like diabetes or epilepsy
- The presence of other psychiatric disorders such as conduct or anxiety (anxiety, fear)
- Death of a family member or close friend
- physical or sexual abuse
- The alcohol or drugs
other risk factors and situations that lead to depression are:.
- Girls in early puberty (girls and boys before puberty have the same risk for depression, but after puberty and adulthood, women are twice as prone to depression than men)
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Domestic violence – lack of social relationships with people of similar age
-. The victim of an assault or attack

depression in childhood or adolescence is to develop gradually or suddenly. The child may be tired or irritable than sad or desperate. Children’s playground with a group of children apparently slow movements in depression, insomnia or restlessness. The child may be self-critical or feel that others are too critical of him.
symptoms of depression are often subtle at first. At this stage it is difficult to assess the symptoms associated with depression and it is difficult to believe that depression in children.
children with depression, these symptoms:
-
irritability -
anger – unexplained pain such as headaches or stomach
- Difficulty thinking and decision
-
sauinsomnie drowsiness – Changes in eating habits that can lead to growth, increase the lack of weight loss or weight gain, the child should
- loss of self-esteem (low confidence)
- feelings of guilt or hopelessness
- Lack of energy or constant fatigue
- withdrawal from social life, such as lack of interest in friends
- can the thought of death and suicidal thoughts

untreated depression lead to suicide carefully for signs of suicide change with age .. . The signs of the attention of children and youth suicide include preoccupation with death or suicide or the last setting of friendly relations.
Many children with depression, anxiety symptoms (anxiety), such as ongoing concerns and unfounded fears of separation from a parent. Sometimes these symptoms appear before depression is diagnosed.
Other symptoms may occur less frequently in children suffering from severe depression and hearing voices that are not there (auditory hallucinations) or blind faith in a false impression (illusion, anger). Hallucinations are common in children, while delusions common in adolescence.
distinguish between normal mood and various symptoms of depression is often difficult. Occasional feelings of sadness or irritability are normal. They allow the child to the pain and a lot of understanding obstacles in life. For example, a deep sadness (big loss) is a normal reaction to loss as the death of family pet, the loss of a friend or a divorce. After a tough loss, the child can remain sad for long. However, if these feelings can not begin to disappear after a while and affect the privacy of children develop symptoms of a mood disorder like depression or dysthymia (long nonsevere depression) requiring treatment
About 15% of children and adolescents with depression develop bipolar disorder (this contradictory symptoms: alternating between depression and exaggerated mood) .. Children and adolescents have bipolar disorder, extreme events, changes between episodes of manic depression (children are energetic, restless or irritable). Common symptoms of depression, other diseases can be together.
It is sometimes difficult to distinguish bipolar disorder from depression. It is diagnosed for a child diagnosed with bipolar disorder with depression for the first time after his first manic episode is diagnosed with bipolar disorder is widespread. Although depression is a bipolar disorder, they require a different treatment than depression. such as depression, bipolar disorder can be familial, therefore, the need of the physician to inform a family there are other cases of bipolar disorder.

depression in childhood and adolescence may occur first, crying with irritability, sadness, or sudden unexplained. Children can lose interest in activities they enjoy at once, can not feel loved, or they feel hopeless. You may have problems in school can careless or rude.
Often children can be linked from depression and other disorders associated with depression and other manifestations of anxiety (fear), behavioral disorders similar to hyperexcitability (hyperactivity) with attention deficit disorder, eating disorders and the process of learning and behavioral disorders suffer severe ( behavior). These diseases can occur to be depressed from a young man. Some children with depression develop serious behavior problems (disorderly conduct), usually after having been depressed. If your child has this disease should be raised if necessary to notify the treatment of depression.
child or adolescent depression is more of the drugs, alcohol, smoke, than those who have n no depression. About 30% of young people with depression have problems with alcohol or drugs. They are much more difficult to improve the treatment of depression, the processing time required to efficiently and increase the risk for suicide. Early diagnosis and treatment can be a good communication with your child to help prevent drug abuse

Emergency services must be known if

.
- The child is in a position to hurt yourself if you threaten other people or signs of a suicide attempt
- Missing child hears voices (auditory hallucinations)
The child is drawn. to notify emergency services if you can not do without self-harm or injury to others. Hear Read phonetic approach “wait and see”, or “watchful waiting” may be useful if the child feelings of grief, sadness and melancholy.
However, parents should the doctor if symptoms last longer than two weeks or if symptoms interferes with daily activities.
untreated depression can lead to suicide. The warning signs of suicide attempt a change with age. The warning signs of a suicide attempt include a child or adolescent concern with death and suicide or break a friendship recently. Treatment for depression includes expert advice, certain drugs, family education, or a combination of both. It is also important that your child is in your treatment plan by setting long-term relationships with professionals in the processing
Specilistii involved in the treatment of children involved with depression are involved.
-
psychiatrist -
pediatrician -
psychologist – GP
-
junior doctor – a specialist health professional advice
(psychotherapy) can be done.
- Psychiatrist
-
psychologist -
social worker – mental health licensees
- a psychiatric nurse. Physician or other healthcare professional will assess and diagnose depression in children, chestionandu medical history and conduct tests to determine if the symptoms are not due to other causes of depression. The child may undergo a general physical examination followed by blood tests to determine whether she diseases such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) or anemia (low red blood cell count) associated. The child may be tested to assess the mental health tests to analyze the capacity for reflection, reasoning and memory.
father will be asked to complete a questionnaire on pediatric symptoms of the child, it is a short test for the diagnosis of depression or other psychological problems of children. The child is also a written or oral test for the diagnosis of depression.
sometimes costly tests needed to fully understand the condition of the child. The interview is preferably conducted in the presence of a parent or a person with the child. Other important information, please contact your child’s teacher or social worker will receive.

treatment of depression in young adults is similar to the inclusion of psychiatric consultations and medication. Although antidepressants can be effective in treating the effects of depression, and the long-term safety of these drugs in children are still not fully understood. But experts believe that the benefits of antidepressants, the risks outweigh the majority of children with depression.
Less than a third of children and adolescents with depression receive treatment. This is partly due to the youth are of no bias due to depression or depressive feelings are normal for their age. Children also do not want to help you if you get depressed, because it is normal, depressed, think, suffer invinovatii them something or someone else from their symptoms or they did not know nothing, to contact help. Children should be instructed to help, feel depressed when they have to learn, you ask, where and who you turn to for help when they are depressed
treatments ask.
- selective receptor inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine’s (Prozac, for example), usually one of the SSRI fluoxetine to treat to treat depression in children and adolescents, but, like other SSRIs citaprolam (Celexa) or sertraline (Zoloft) may be effective in depression, and sometimes they are required
- an atypical antidepressant such as bupropion (Wellbutrin, for example) or venlafaxine (Effexor)
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as tranylcypromine (Parnate) or phenelzine (Nardil)
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) or dezipramina (such as Norpramin). Tricyclic antidepressants have been used to treat childhood depression occurs, but recent studies have shown limited effect of these drugs. Tricyclic antidepressants are at risk of overdose and other serious side effects such as heart-related side effects.

The type of treatment depends on your child needs in the first episode of depression, severity of depression, leading to depression (family problems or problems at school). If your child has thoughts of suicide, severe depression or is from reality (psychosis) or connected to any activity in which hospitalization is necessary.
treatment of depression in children and adolescents generally consists of educational counseling, medication and family.
Tips for depression may include:
- cognitive behavioral therapy aimed at changing certain thoughts and behavior patterns
(how they behave) is focused – group therapy focusing on social and personal relationships and related issues
- Problem-solving therapy, a kind of cognitive therapy is to find practical solutions to these problems
- to educate family therapy for help and comfort of family
- play therapy for very young Children
- Inform family members can be performed either through the education of medical personnel and family therapy. Some of the most important things you should teach family members are:
- Know how to check whether your child is the therapeutic, such as administering medication and proper counseling made available to monitor
- Learn how the stress that occurs in a person with depression reduce
- Know the signs of a recurrence (return), to prevent this disease for recurrent depression
- Know the signs of suicidal behavior, assess its severity and take a correct attitude in their presence
- Learn is to recognize the signs of a manic episode (a sign of bipolar disorder), a crisis of excess energy or irritability
- . Establishment of a treatment depends on a parent with depression

The treatment conditions the child severe symptoms occur, and if the symptoms interfere with daily activities affect the quality of life. Treatment includes professional counseling and long-term drug therapy.
Some children do not meet the tests first and takes several medications to relieve symptoms. Both medication and professional counseling may be the most effective therapy, particularly in children with chronic depression that lasts for at least a year.
An important part of treatment is medication in children with depression. Often people who feel better after a while antidepressants are “cured” and as I do not need additional treatment. However, if the drug is discontinued, symptoms usually return, it is very important that the patient’s treatment plan be followed exactly. The child must meet
to continue the orientation program and lifestyle changes like healthy eating and regular exercise.
If your child has a disorder associated with depression, you should still get treatment for this disease. The medical staff must be informed in relation to the irradiation and the associated disease.

If condition worsens, the child during the treatment of depression (which includes expert advice changes, medications and lifestyle) are needed. additional treatment
If the disease gets worse considering the following:
- parents should make sure that the treatment be administered under a doctor’s prescription, as the doctor recommended therapy, as the child scheduled for counseling
- -> identify and reduce stress, a worsening of symptoms to prevent
- Changing the dose or change the child receives
medicine. – To use the recommendations for medical treatment at home (well-balanced diet and regular exercise) used correspond
It only requires a short hospital stay, especially if the child shows signs of suicide (aggressive or hostile, excessive thoughts about death or detachment from reality) or, if this is so depressed that they lose contact with reality (psychosis) or has hallucinations or delusions. Warning signs of suicide change with age. Warning signs of suicide in children and adolescents may be an excessive preoccupation with death or suicide or a new break

If this young man is depressed, the parents should hide weapons and drugs with potentially lethal in the house, especially knowing that young people know they exist, and warning signs for suicide. Although drug overdose is the most commonly used by young people in their suicide attempt, a very high risk at home may present existence of a firearm, attempted especially if it’s in an easily accessible place and loaded with ammunition.
father must try to convince young people to know the value of a security plan in the event of his thoughts of suicide, as written or oral contract against suicide. Young will not hurt themselves and tell a parent if they have suicidal thoughts. The proof of the validity of the contract against suicide, suicide attempt or the action itself is evaluated to prevent. It is not clear whether these agreements help and how much help, but some doctors think that they are useful.
older children with severe depression with electroshock therapy may be used for processing. In this method, an electrical short circuit stimulation of the brain through electrodes placed on the head sent. This is called depression by altering brain chemicals called neurotransmitters in relieve.

While some experts believe that the benefits outweigh the risks of treatment for most children with depression is limited research on antidepressants. To treat long-term effects and safe use of medications for depression in children and adolescents are unknown. Recently, experts warned of the National Agency for Medicines (NAM) on the possibility of an increased risk of suicide in people taking antidepressants.
family involvement is very important to treat depression especially in children and adolescents. Sometimes parents of children or adolescents with depression may be or become depressed and need treatment. If the parents remain untreated depression can prevent the recovery of the child.
Treaties establishing the treatment of depression in children, both with his recovery is quicker. If treatment delayed recovery more difficult over the child.
Sometimes it takes several weeks to become effective drugs, even if the symptoms improve more quickly. The delay in improving the symptoms can be difficult for the family and child. At first, so they can try to different drugs until they find the best for the child.
It is customary to defend children and adolescents, a new episode of depression (relapse) during the first 2-5 years after the first episode.

create a pleasant environment at home is necessary, in children with depression, she needs support and understanding. Love, understanding and ongoing communication are some of the most important things you can do to you can you manage a child with depression.
also have a good family life, in the meetings of Solace (the board), taking medication prescribed by a doctor with good habits, symptoms of depression can be reduced a

Usually do exercises such as swimming, hiking, playing every day.
Avoid alcohol and illegal drugs, not a doctor of medicine, natural medicine and treatment that was not prescribed by a doctor advised (as they also interfere with drugs used to treat depression).
enough sleep. If your child has trouble sleeping (resting) to:
- is at the same time every night
bed – Stay calm and darkroom
- not 17 hours after exercise, “br /. Drink> balanced. If your child has a poor appetite or reduced, it is advisable to eat frequent small meals instead of meals.
To be sure, he will be fine. Positive thinking is very important in the treatment of depression. It is difficult to think positive when you are sad, but good to remind the child with depression is that progress is gradual and takes time.
At about warning signs of suicide (aggressive or hostile behavior, excessive thoughts death, or detachment from reality) seek help from health care or child-care physician, an experienced consultant psychiatrist or emergency services. Should Call 911 immediately if your child is in danger.

The medications used to treat depression in children and adults have in studies taking into account the effects of reliability and long-term introduced. According to these studies, there was consensus about the connection between antidepressants and suicidality. National Association of Drug Administration, these results verified . Thus, especially in the first weeks of treatment with antidepressants experience feelings or behavior. If a child starts treatment of depression, antidepressants should be closely monitored. However, children with untreated depression also at risk of suicide, which takes into account should be all the risks and benefits of treatment with antidepressants.

Treatment with antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) is an effective therapy for treating depression, particularly when prescribed regularly been but sometimes you need weeks to go to work to begin treatment.
SSRIs (Selective serotonin receptors) are effective in treating other diseases, such as anxiety.
A child with depression should each medication be treated for depression is recommended until the discovery of a new effective treatment of depression. Once the right medication is recommended that children should be with depression continue medication for several months or more symptoms of depression to take, fell shortly after, a repeat again prevent.
Some children who were first diagnosed with depression, later diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, the disease cycle in two of the symptoms of mania and depression are found (the feeling very energetic, often with euphoria, agitation, irritability, impulsivity or risk behavior). If a child or teenager has bipolar disorder, the first episode of mania can happen spontaneously, but may result from medications such as antidepressants, stimulants or drugs.