children s health issues
Depression and Mood Dysregulation Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Symptoms
As in adults, the severity of depression in children varies greatly. Children with major depressive disorder have an episode of depression that lasts 2 weeks or more. Children typically have feelings of overwhelming sadness or irritability, worthlessness, and guilt. They lose interest in activities that normally give them pleasure, such as playing sports, watching television, playing video games, or playing with friends. They may profess intense boredom. Many of these children also complain of physical problems, such as stomachache or headache. Appetite may increase or decrease, often leading to substantial changes in weight. Growing children may not gain weight as expected. Sleep is usually disturbed. Children may have insomnia, sleep too much, or be troubled by frequent nightmares. Depressed children are often not energetic or physically active. However, some, particularly younger children, have seemingly contradictory symptoms, such as overactivity and aggressive behavior. These children may seem more irritable than sad. Symptoms typically interfere with the ability to think and concentrate, and schoolwork usually suffers. They may lose friends. Children may have suicidal thoughts and fantasies and may even attempt suicide. Even without treatment, children with major depressive disorder may get better in 6 to 12 months. However, the disorder often recurs, particularly if the first episode was severe or occurred when children were young. Feeling sad or irritable Having no interest in favorite activities Withdrawing from friends and social situations Being unable to enjoy things Feeling rejected and unloved or worthless Feeling fatigued or without any energy Not sleeping well and having nightmares or sleeping too much Blaming themselves Losing their appetite and weight Having problems thinking, concentrating, and making choices Thinking about death and/or suicide Giving away valued possessions Complaining of new physical symptoms Making lower grades in school Children with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder are irritable most of the time for a long time, and their behavior is frequently out of control. They have frequent, severe temper outbursts that are much more intense and last much longer than the situation merits. During these outbursts, they may destroy property, or physically hurt others. Between outbursts, children are irritable or angry most of the day nearly every day. This disorder usually begins when children are 6 to 10 years old. Many of these children also have other disorders, such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder None Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (ADHD) An Overview of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents None When these children become adults, they may develop depression or an anxiety disorder. Because these children sometimes appear out of control, doctors often used to diagnose them as having Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents . However, doctors now realize that this disorder is not bipolar disorder. This disorder resembles major depressive disorder, but symptoms are not usually as intense and last a year or longer. 