Childhood Depression
May 17, 2011 by cmohamed
The article begins about a 4- year old boy, Kiran, who, according to his parents, rarely acts up and is often obedient. His parent began to see worrying signs that concerned them. Kiran was not having fun and was often bored at everything. When they took him to Disneyland, he responded that “Mickey lies, dreams don’t come true.” After taking their son to a child psychiatrist, he was diagnosed with preschool depression, much to the surprise of their parents. Kiran already had a genetic predisposition of depression because his mother was diagnosed with it as well. Upon looking back at her childhood she remembers having the same symptoms as her song during her early childhood; however she was treated either therapy because her parent knew something was wrong, but didn’t know what to do.
Many experts believe that diagnosing children with depression is extreme such that young children are immature, temperamental and interchangeable. “Children of depressed parents are two to three times likely to have major depression.” Joan Luby, a professor of child psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine, who also gave the diagnosis to Kiren, believe that depression and surface to individuals as early at age 2-3. “Though research does not support the use of antidepressants in children this young,” early detection of depression is critical. The symptoms are very similar to that of adult depression. The sadness has to persist at different times, different setting and with different people. It can be caused by the death of a family member, divorce, bullying, parental abuse, genetics, or sometimes have no apparent cause. One key aspect that makes childhood depression different is that children continue to play; however most of the time, the child would be apathetic and usually isolates him/herself. Often the child experiences temper outburst that overshadow the depressive symptoms. According to Luby’s study, 40% of the children she studied also were reported that have A.D.D or O.D.D. Because the DSM-IV does not specify depression in preschoolers, the research organization Zero to Three, published their own manual, the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood, in 2005 so psychiatrists and parents can better diagnose children.
It seems a bit scary to think that young children can potentially be diagnosed with a serious psychological disorder of depression. Many people might believe that only kids that experience severe abuse, neglect of psychosocial deprivation would have depression, however most cases the depressed child are in a nurturing, and caring family. A test that Luby performed with her team performed called the Berkeley Puppet Interview, “which was developed to help children articulate how they perceive themselves and process their emotions.” When the puppet asked the children about his parents and if he was bad, the boy responded with insecure and low self-esteem answers. He shows a sense of guilt and shame that can possible mark a depressive symptom. Further studies at Duke University by Helen Egger suggest that 1-3 percent of children between 2 and 5 have depression.
New York Times article, “Can Preschoolers Be Depressed?”
