INTRODUCTION Prevalence rates for depression in children and adolescents are estimated up to 8.9%. Symptoms in this age group are different from those of depression in adults. Both neurobiological and psychosocial factors are involved in its development. METHODS Selective literature review. RESULTS Of note are both the high rate of spontaneous remissions in childhood (33%), and the high rate of depressions continuing into adulthood (80%). In addition far fewer evidence based treatments are available than for adults. Fluoxetine is currently the only medication licensed for use in children and adolescents for this indication. Tri- and tetracyclic antidepressants have not been shown in meta-analyses to be effective in children and adolescents. Most antidepressants lead to age related side effects, including attention deficit and in particular behavioral toxicity, which has to be taken seriously wherever there is a suicide risk. DISCUSSION The treatment of depression in childhood and adolescence should be based on multimodal interventions including psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, which has proven effectiveness, psychosocial interventions and medications in severe cases. Patients with severe depression, especially suicidal minors, should be treated in patients units.
Depression in children and adolescents
Published 1965 in Deutsches Ärzteblatt International
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
1965
- Venue
Deutsches Ärzteblatt International
- Publication date
1965-12-18
- Fields of study
Medicine, Computer Science, Psychology
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- childhood and adolescent depression
Depressive disorder occurring in children and adolescents, which is the clinical focus of the review.
Aliases: depression in children and adolescents, pediatric depression
- cognitive behavioral therapy
A structured psychotherapy approach included among the recommended interventions for depressed children and adolescents.
Aliases: CBT
- continuation into adulthood
Persistence of depressive illness from childhood or adolescence into adult life.
Aliases: continuing into adulthood
- fluoxetine
A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discussed as the licensed antidepressant option for this age group.
- inpatient units
Hospital-based treatment settings used for severe cases of depression in minors.
Aliases: inpatient care, patient units
- multimodal interventions
A combined treatment approach that uses more than one therapeutic modality for pediatric depression.
Aliases: multimodal treatment
- psychosocial interventions
Non-pharmacological social and behavioral supports used alongside other treatments in pediatric depression.
- severe depression in minors
The subset of pediatric depressive illness described as severe, including cases with suicide risk.
Aliases: suicidal minors, severe cases
- spontaneous remission in childhood
Natural reduction or resolution of depressive symptoms during childhood without active treatment.
Aliases: spontaneous remission
- tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants
Older antidepressant classes evaluated in the review for pediatric depression treatment.
Aliases: tri- and tetracyclic antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressants