Is Your Child Depressed?

" I'm Clark welcome and thanks for joining us for the webcast. Question you thought of as a grown up problem but study of shove it up to two and a half cent of young children. Eight point 3% of adolescents in the US suffer from depression. Left untreated it can lead to academic. Social problems or even violent -- thought. How do you know if your child might be suffering from depression. What doesn't depression at a young age me. And here to these questions we have doctor Peter Jensen. That are of child psychiatry at Columbia University eminently qualified for the topics children can experience depression obviously --"

" Certainly and I think as we used to think that depression couldn't by definition occurring in children and when I trained originally that was. The general notion that depression perhaps didn't occur in children. Really yes so what brought about the change in thinking and the recognition that can affect children well -- investigators are researchers began to apply the approaches and the methods used to study depression and adults -- children can and lo and behold he found it wasn't just stage and you had all the signs and symptoms that adults have a young child. You've probably a much greater or even then an adult has on -- with depression global and it has a much more typical. Problematic course -- an early intervention this is quite quite critical. I there's certain types of children who are more prone to depression. -- and history's important genetic factors properly playable. There are other factors that -- aspect. Opera lie under medical illness might serve as a pretend who -- trust factors occurring throughout a -- period of one life from some people are demonstrated that a lot of -- significant loved ones in early critical periods of rain for -- of life might lead to later problems and Nader's -- modest increased risk for depression some other things we don't think about but -- are linked to depression. And it won't and so a lot of substance is probably linked. To depression."

" For the child to have cancer and so -- about -- mother -- station both though I think. Now corals are more prone to depression at certain stages and development when is that."

" Well the -- boys and girls are equal prior to puberty. And so that the rates an -- arguments and an opportunity to -- throwing that range. The winning hit puberty in girls really seemed to. Unfortunately blossom -- depressions concern on that point it probably doubles or triples among girls were at the rate among boys only increased my lead and we don't know but because of cute little hormones. Some of the new stress factors that are pretty girls as they reached puberty and pay other responsibilities. For male female difference and I expectation."

" There's certainly a lot of issues regarding weight concerns and body image those sorts of things that -- elderly and what sorts of things can parents do to recognize depression in children. I shouldn't they be brought up the that this might be a little easier with an adolescent and with a very young child which can look for the."

" correct and very young children and the child may not verbalize like an adolescent would be able to cry because there are things and so for younger children a parent has to observe. Changes in -- that more are exhibited -- the child being more Terkel crying block of interest in and -- details on what activities. Bob we might all be vegetative or bodily changes like changes in weight sleeping more sleeping last. The predominant children irritability. And for now until -- at -- easy crying beat a major science. Analysts and all of those same thing mind you press and for adolescents get very good at hiding depression. And so quickly find an adolescent going to be very depressed. What pastors feel like it's got to put on the show. Do you keep up the image either on the parent particular care. And so the parent aren't real difficulty getting kind of an inroad and talk with analysts and trying to. What's going on because it adolescent might be basically incommunicado. And might be very depressed. Again if there's if it looks like -- easy frequent irritability or -- Talking about cancers who resigned to lock it into normal activities decline in grainy it -- alone in one room prolonged periods of time he's that'll be some of the -- from delusions may also be an indicator that wouldn't be very common on target practice for depression for investors are very very dirty and -- are nervous about scholars -- probably -- That would be uncommon but it can't it can't occur."

" How long does -- since. Episode to last for a child assists at a lifelong committed. And measurable in terms of months years."

" Well -- Eight child prior to puberty hasn't depression you know he or she is that much greater risk. Her subsequent depression and -- some studies have shown for example. Among three -- hurdle parker -- children. Their risk was about 80% for developing second depression. Again in the next five years and not only depression but other difficulties as well sometimes other conditions like bipolar disorder anxiety problems and so -- it's a very severe problem and occurs in childhood. When -- there's an adolescent slow though can be life threatening it doesn't convey the same degree of the likelihood that we'll be pro to home and so much less likely to be persistent although once you've had a depression are more likely than Amber's never had learned to have a subsequent depression. If your child is diagnosed with depression or treatment options are available. Live two forms major clumps of treatment. And medication that some of the -- medications are called as as our eyes movements of fancy term but it's medications like prozac or -- these are special new medications. They're working on a different chemical in the brains and some of the older now once they're quite a highly effective and I don't we're not getting the evidence that they appear to work now as well in Atlanta. The other form of treatment that we think works well something called cognitive behavior therapy EDT we can't. And -- your garden variety therapy special therapy. Of a parent really. I should end the -- and needs to be happy about this because he walked into seeing all of that a doctor or therapist you may get any old therapy. And then goes on there at the therapies that work at -- special form of cognitive behavioral therapy. Education and the parent education and -- turning to web sites that have been as many good ones out there that have information on the treatment and how to seek help. A good strategy."

" Final advice for parents. That their child might have to and that is not shore could return to get an accurate diagnosis."

" They're -- there's apparent there's educate. You're you're all. And speak with the primary care provider the child's pediatrician or adolescent that is especially. They get their advice as well trickle they'll know -- within the community so. You need to be armed with good information -- compared to what works and what doesn't because so let the buyer beware came out there. And then Terry dear doctor and and with that information get today that I can't mutant doctor but the bottom line is seek treatment because it can't help immeasurably absolutely. Thanks so much doctor -- we appreciate you being here and thank you for joining us and our web audience and Clark."