Depression in Children and its Impact to Others

Depression in Children Paper
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Depression in Children Paper
Background/History
Depression in children is a critical public health issue linked to other psychological and physical wellbeing conditions, heightened risk of death due to suicide, and deteriorated functional impairment. Depression is a mood disorder that causes a child to feel irritable, hopeless, or sad. It could affect their relations with others, sleep patterns, or appetite. Depression could make children lose interest in activities or hobbies they previously enjoyed. In severe scenarios, depression could result in suicidal ideation. Depression is generally established if manifestations persist for two weeks or longer (Cleveland Clinic). Historically, recognition of mental life in adolescents and children is of recent origin. Children were previously not recognized to have feelings, including major depressive disorder or other psychological disorders. In that vein, there is a need for enabled efforts and research to get objective knowledge into the hands of providers and parents.
The current form of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) incorporates two critical types of depressive disorders in children as well as adolescents: persistent depressive disorder (PDD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). These depressive disorders have various characteristics. The clinical manifestations for MDD in children include irritable or depressed mood, lack of enjoyment or deteriorated interest, indecision or decreased concentration, hypersomnia or insomnia, weight or appetite changes, excessive fatigue, excessive guilt or worthless feelings, suicidal ideation, or recurrent thoughts about death, and retardation or psychomotor agitation. These symptoms result in significant distress or impairment in terms of social and other crucial facets of functioning. PDD symptoms (dysthymic disorder) include irritable mood or being sad, decreased or increased appetite, hypersomnia or insomnia, fatigue, reduced self-esteem, feeling hopeless, and indecision or poor concentration (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). These symptoms cause substantial distress and impairment in various facets of functioning. In the TEDx Talks video titled “The truth about teen depression,” Shinnick narrated how she stopped doing her homework, withdrew from friends, failed to answer calls for a week, and refused to go to school. She also experienced problems getting out of bed in the morning as she felt excessively fatigued (Shinnick). In this vein, Shinnick’s symptoms indicate that she suffered from major depressive disorder, as discussed above.
Medical Advancement
With proper treatment, seventy to eighty percent of individuals with depressive disorders can attain a substantial reduction in clinical manifestations, though roughly 50 percent of patients may not effectively respond to initial medical intervention trials (Halverson). Psychotherapy and medications effectively treat depression in most individuals, including children. The psychiatrist or the primary care physician prescribes medications to reduce clinical manifestations. Accordingly, many persons, including children, with depression seek medical care services from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other psychological health professionals (Mayo Clinic Staff). That said, additional research is needed to find a long-term and sustainable solution to major depressive disorder in children. Despite the significant investments in treating depression in children, especially cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressant medications, such interventions always enhance long-term outcomes (Ormel et al. 1). In addition to extensive research, the prevention of childhood depression episodes remains a critical effort towards reducing the healthcare burden associated with the illness.
As earlier noted, depressive disorders impact long-term physical and mental health conditions, resulting in increased suicide risk and deteriorated functional abilities in children. The possibility of long-term adverse ramifications of child-onset depressive disorders underscored the value of its initial identification, diagnosis, and subsequent medical interventions. Several pharmacological, nonpharmacological, and integrated treatment approaches for depression in children exist for clinicians with different levels of research supporting their application and efficacy (Viswanathan et al. 1). Generally, the evidence level for respective treatment types remains unreliable for application in pediatric populaces, and the research base is relatively negligible for children compared to adolescents.
Although some research exists for the benefits, mainly from nonpharmacological interventions, increasingly fewer evidence reports associated detrimental ramifications. Regarding pharmacological interventions for treating depression in children, the Food and Drug Administration approves two kinds of selective serotine reuptake inhibitors to manage MDD (escitalopram for teenagers and fluoxetine for children aged eight or older). Practice trends are mostly multifaceted and could include combination or single therapy. Some healthcare professionals integrate interventions, especially when one treatment form fails. Specific treatment interventions could be initiated concurrently or staggered (for example, one treatment type, then another intervention four weeks later) (Viswanathan et al. 1).
Research in childhood depression is costly since it involves working with adolescents and children who lack the c...