By: McMaster's Children's Hospital Family Resource Centre Newsletter
Date: October 2005
A Depressive Disorder is characterized as an illness that influences the body, mood and thoughts. It is a disorder that affects an individual’s eating and sleeping patterns, personal feelings about oneself and thoughts about daily activities. Approximately eighteen million American adults suffer from a Depressive Illness, and many children and adolescents do so as well. Having a Depressive Illness in not a sign of weakness or a personal failure and it is not a disease that one can will away or cure on their own. Left untreated, individuals with a Depressive Disorder are likely to suffer for weeks, months or even years.
Types of Depressions
There are a variety of different forms of Depressive Disorders that vary in symptoms, severity and persistence. Three types of these disorders are outlined below.
Major Depression is marked by a variety of symptoms that interfere with daily life activities such as sleeping, eating, and the ability to work, study and to enjoy activities that were once enjoyable. This form of depression is extremely harmful as it can hamper an individual’s ability to function and it can occur once or several times in a lifetime.
Dysthymia is a type of depression that is less severe and
it involves long term and ongoing symptoms that minimize a sufferer’s
ability to feel good about oneself. Although this illness does
not disable one’s ability to function, individuals that have dysthmia
are likely to experience a major depressive episode at least once in their lifetime.
Bipolar Disorder, also referred to as manic-depressive illness, is not as common as other forms of depressive disorders yet it is an illness that is challenging to overcome. Characterized as a cycle of mood swings, involving severe highs (mania) and lows (depression), these mood switches can have a rapid or a more common gradual onset. When an individual is experiencing the depressed cycle they can experience some or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder. However, during a manic phase an individual may feel excited and full of great ideas which can result in unwise decision making and awkward social behaviour.
Prior to the last two decades, Depression in Children had not been taken seriously. Over the years research has shown that it is important to recognize and understand the symptoms associated to depression in children. A depressed child may refuse to go to school, or pretend they are ill or worry that a family member may die. Older children with depression are often moody and may get in trouble at school and feel misunderstood. For a parent it is difficult to tell whether a child is going through a developmental phase or if they are suffering from depression. Paying attention to changes in behaviour and noticing if a child does not seem to be acting in their usual manner may help determine whether or not a child or teen is suffering from depression.
Visiting a child pediatrician may help determine if a child needs to be further evaluated by a psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of childhood or youth depression. If depression is diagnosed and treatment is needed a doctor may suggest that a therapist such as social worker or a psychologist provide therapy for the child. It is important to note that parents should not be afraid to ask questions especially concerning a therapist’s qualifications, the therapies being suggested and medications that are offered.
This information was taken and adapted from the National Institute of Mental
Health Website. (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)