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Signs & Symptoms of Depression in Children

Depression can be a difficult and debilitating disease; it can disrupt a person's life and even lead to suicide. It affects not just the patient but also his or her family and friends. Unfortunately, depression doesn't only affect adults. Children and teens can develop serious depression as well. There are many symptoms of depression in children, and they vary greatly from child to child. If your child exhibits several of the symptoms below, contact your pediatrician.

  1. Childhood Depression

    • As children grow, their risk for depression increases. The University of Michigan Depression Center reports that 1 to 2 percent of younger children and 3 to 8 percent of adolescents experience depression. For most of these children, it is a chronic or recurring condition that should be treated with care. For kids, depression can lead to alcohol, drug and cigarette use, problems with school, health and relationships as well as risky sexual behavior. Children with depression are 30 times more likely to commit suicide.

    Emotional Symptoms

    • According to the University of Michigan Depression Center, children with depression are often excessively emotional. They might cry a lot or act unusually irritable, angry or aggressive. This aggression might lead to uncharacteristic conflicts with parents or authority figures. They might also show extreme sensitivity to rejection. Some degree of irritability or moodiness is normal for adolescents, but if your teen is experiencing extreme anger, sadness or several other symptoms, he or she might be clinically depressed.

    Social Symptoms

    • Depressed children will usually withdraw from social interaction and seem uninterested in previously important relationships. They might isolate themselves voluntarily or lose interest in activities that they enjoyed before. At school, children with depression may not make good grades and may have trouble concentrating.

    Physical Symptoms

    • If a child suddenly exhibits an extreme change in sleep or appetite, he or she might be depressed. Children with depression usually have very little energy. Some kids who are depressed have physical problems such as chronic headaches or stomachaches that are not related to another illness.

    Heightened Risk Factors

    • The University of Michigan Depression Center reports that children with other psychological problems such as ADHD, anxiety disorder, or conduct disorders may also develop depression. Kids with general medical problems (i.e. asthma, diabetes, etc.) or developmental disorders may also be at an increased risk for depression. Some factors, such as increased hormone levels and anxiety about bodily changes and sexual identity, make teen girls twice as likely to become depressed as boys. Children whose parents have suffered from depression have a 50 percent risk of experiencing it themselves.

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