Depression in Childhood and Adolescence Essay - 748 Words

Depression in Childhood and Adolescence Until recently depression in children and adolescents had not received a great deal of attention. Increasing interest can probably be traced to a number of influences. Promising developments in the treatment of mood disorders in adults have played a role. In addition the application of diagnostic criteria in children has greatly improved. In everyday usage the term depression refers to the experience of sadness, or dysphoria, is also a central feature of the clinical definition of depression. Loss of the experience of pleasure, social withdrawal, lowered self-esteem, inability to concentrate, poor schoolwork, alterations of biological functions (sleeping, eating, elimination), and†¦show more content†¦There has not been much evidence of the truth to this matter and further tests would have to say. Biochemistry of Depression The study of the biochemistry of depression in adults has highlighted the role of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. Research on the biological aspects of depression suggests that during the earlier developmental periods of childhood and adolescence, the neuroregulatory system is not equivalent to that in adulthood. Thus, while many workers still find evidence for a biological dysfunction in childhood depression, a translation of the adult findings would not be sufficient. Most of the characteristics of adult depression are not present with childhood depression, and vise versa. Social-Psychological Influences Despite much interest, much of the thinking regarding social and psychological influences on child and adolescent depression is still based on theories derived from work with depressed adults. Probably the most common psychological explanation of depression would be separation or loss. The loss could be real, as in a death or move, or it could be separation anxiety that could be present when the child begins school or parent returns to work. This could be a very emotion time for the child and they may need some extra help learning to cope with their feelings. Cognitive-Behavioral Perspectives There has been studies don to suggest that many children withShow MoreRelatedEssay On Glts938 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Anxiety disorders are more frequently diagnosed during adolescence and childhood years. Studies looking into childhood disorders have displayed an outstanding level of comorbidity among other types of disorders including depression and alcohol addictions. Very little knowledge is known about the study of anxiety disorders from childhood to adolescence and throughout life. 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