How to Control Childhood Depression by Dr. Muhammad Zeeshan Khan, MBBS, FCPS, Child Specialist Lahore

 

How to Control Childhood Depression by Dr. Muhammad Zeeshan Khan, MBBS, FCPS, Child Specialist Lahore

What is child hood depression?

It is common that most child feel sad, lonely and depressed sometimes. But if your child persistently feel depressed or hopeless than he or she may suffering from childhood depression that is one of the serious mental health issue and needs treatment.

One out of five young adults are suffering from mental health issues. But there is nothing to worry about as health care professionals can easily diagnose and treat these mental health problems including childhood depression with medications and psychotherapy.

Childhood depression is different in daily life “blues” that every child experience during their growing age. If your child feels lonely, sad and depressed sometimes it doesn’t mean your child has childhood depression.

Causes:

Exact causes of childhood depression are unknown yet. However, it is believed that it occurs due to combination of some factors. These factors include:

·         Life events

·         Physical health

·         Family history

·         Genetics

·         Biochemical disturbance

·         Environmental

Sign and symptoms:

Sign and symptoms of childhood depression are different for every child as it depends on the child and his or her mood. Sometimes childhood depression seems like normal psychological and emotional change usually happens in growing children that is why it is left untreated.

Some of the symptoms include:

·         Continuously feeling sad and lonely

·         Feeling worthless and guilty

·         Lower energy and fatigue

·         Increase or decrease in appetite

·         Change in your sleeping routine. It could be excess of sleep or sleeplessness

·         Difficulty in concentrating

·         Difficulty in thinking

·         Anger or irritability

·         Social withdrawal

·         Highly sensitive to rejection

·         Physical health problems such as headache and stomach ache

·         Crying or vocal outburst

·         Thoughts of suicide

Risk factors:

Those children are at high risk of having childhood depression who have a family history of childhood depression. Children with a family history of depression tend to have depression episode earlier than other children.

Children of conflicted and chaotic families are also more likely to have childhood depression.

Drinking alcohol and taking drugs can also increase the chances of childhood depression.

Diagnosis:

If you see any symptoms of childhood depression in your child that stay longer than two weeks than you should consult a health care professional or if you are in Lahore city then you can contact Dr. Muhammad Zeeshan Khan, MBBS, FCPS, Child Specialist Lahore .who is specialised in treating childhood depression.

Your doctor might take interviews of you and your child for the evaluation of childhood depression. Also, some psychological tests would be taken. Your doctor will also need information from teachers, classmates and friends that would be useful in diagnosing and recommending treatment.

Treatment:

Treatments of childhood depression are the same for the kids as that are for the adults. These treatments involve medications and counselling/psychotherapy.  Your doctor will recommend you psychotherapy for your child as a first priority.

If your symptoms are severe then your doctor will prescribed antidepressants addition with psychotherapy. Antidepressants are also given if there is no improvement with psychotherapy.

According to different studies, it is concluded that psychotherapy along with antidepressants is the best way to treat childhood depression.

There is a warning from the FDA that antidepressants can increase the risk of suicide thinking and also enhance depressive behaviour and other psychotic disorders in children.

You can always talk to your health care provider is you have any concerns and questions. Always take medicines after you’d doctor's recommendations.

Warning signs of suicide:

Parents should be concerned about their child if they are suffering from childhood depression. There are some signs that indicate that your child is might at the risk of suicide such as:

·         Frequently accidents

·         Increasing acting out behaviour

·         Social isolation

·         Talking about suicide and death

·         Feeling hopeless and helpless

·         Substance abuse

·         Increased risk takings

·         Focus on negative themes

·         Crying more often

·         Reduced emotional expressions