Major depressive disorder
Major depressive disorder is a serious condition characterized by one or more major depressive episodes, lasting from seven to nine months on average. Depressed children are sad, they lose interest in activities that used to please them, and they criticize themselves and feel that others criticize them. They feel unloved, pessimistic, or even hopeless about the future; they think that life is not worth living, and thoughts of suicide may be present. Depressed children and adolescents are often irritable, and their irritability may lead to aggressive behavior. They are indecisive, have problems concentrating, and may lack energy or motivation; they may neglect their appearance and hygiene; and their normal sleep patterns are disturbed. Associated anxiety symptoms, such as fears of separation or reluctance to meet people, and symptoms such as general aches and pains, stomachaches, and headaches, are more common in depressed children and adolescents than in adults with depression.

Bipolar disorder
Many children, and especially adolescents, experience mood swings as a normal part of growing up, but when these feelings persist and interfere with a child’s ability to function in daily life, bipolar disorder could be the cause. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depression, is a mood disorder marked by extreme changes in mood, energy levels and behavior

Children with bipolar disorder usually alternate rapidly between extremely high moods (mania) and low moods (depression). These mood shifts can produce irritability with periods of wellness between episodes, or the young person may feel both extremes at the same time. Parents who have children with the disorder often describe them as unpredictable, alternating between aggressive or silly and withdrawn. Children with bipolar disorder are at a greater risk for anxiety disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. These "co-occurring" disorders complicate diagnosis of bipolar disorder and contribute to the lack of recognition of the illness in children.

Bipolar disorder begins with either manic or depressive symptoms. Not all children with bipolar disorder have all symptoms. Children with bipolar disorder are likely to have a family history of the illness. If a child you know is struggling with any combination of the symptoms listed below for more than two weeks, talk with a doctor or mental health professional.

Manic Symptoms

• Severe changes in mood—from unusually happy or silly to irritable, angry or aggressive.
• Unrealistic highs in self-esteem. May feel indestructible.
• Great increase in energy level. Sleeps little without being tired.
• Excessive involvement in multiple projects and activities. May move from one thing to the next and become easily distracted.
• Increase in talking. Talks too much, too fast, changes topics too quickly, and cannot be interrupted. This may be accompanied by racing thoughts or feeling pressure to keep talking.
• Risk-taking behavior such as abusing drugs and alcohol, attempting daredevil stunts, or being sexually active or having unprotected sex.

 

Depressive Symptoms

• Frequent sadness or crying
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Decreased energy level, lack of enthusiasm or motivation
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure
• Major changes in habits such as over-sleeping or over-eating
• Frequent physical complaints such as headaches and stomachaches
• Recurring thoughts of death, suicide, or self-destructive behavior

Bipolar disorder is treatable. Early identification, diagnosis, and treatment will help children reach their full potential. Children who exhibit signs of bipolar disorder should be evaluated by a mental health professional who specializes in treating children.


Dysthymic disorder
Dysthymic disorder is a mood disorder like major depressive disorder, but it has fewer symptoms and is more chronic. Because of its persistent nature, the disorder is especially likely to interfere with normal adjustment. The onset of dysthymic disorder (also called dysthymia) is usually in childhood or adolescence. The child or adolescent is depressed for most of the day, on most days, and symptoms continue for several years. The average duration of a dysthymic period in children and adolescents is about four years. Sometimes children are depressed for so long that they do not recognize their mood as out of the ordinary and thus may not complain of feeling depressed. Seventy percent of children and adolescents with dysthymia eventually experience an episode of major depression.

Reactive depression
Reactive depression, also known as adjustment disorder with depressed mood, is the most common form of mood problem in children and adolescents. In children suffering from reactive depression, depressed feelings are short-lived and usually occur in response to some adverse experience, such as a rejection, a letdown or a loss. In contrast, children may feel sad or lethargic and appear preoccupied for periods as short as a few hours or as long as two weeks. However, mood improves with a change in activity or an interesting or pleasant event. These transient mood swings in reaction to minor environmental adversities are not regarded as a form of mental disorder.

Getting Help
If you have concerns or questions, help is available. Go to the find help section of this site for support and services in your area.

Sources: Wisconsin United for Mental Health, Office of the United States Surgeon General, National Institute on Mental Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and Mental Health America

 

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