Symptoms

The symptoms and signs of Depressive disease are similar to those in adult cases. The children are more irritable, have less depressive moods, instead of weight loss, there is a failure to gain weight. The children have more physical symptoms like unexplained headaches, pain in abdomen, generalised body aches, fatigue and tiredness.

The school performance is affected early in the Depressive disease. There is difficulty in concentration, poor memory, lack of interest and motivation and slowed thinking. All these lead to poor school performance. Majority of the patients have sleepiness rather than sleeplessness. There are difficulties in psychosocial functions. They avoid friends.Some have suicidal ideations and recurrent thoughts of death.

School phobia and refusal to go to school, clinging to parents and not allowing them to leave, may also be symptoms of Depressive disease in children.

Treatment

The treatment of Depressive disease in children and adolescents is similar to that in adult cases. Medications, psychotherapy to children as well aspsychotherapy to parents (how to handle the children) form part of the treatment.

The results of treatment are good to excellent.

Depressive disease is an easily treatable illness. Precise understanding of biological, psychological and/or social factors which cause, contribute to, maintain or co-exist with the Depressive disease will help the doctor in designing effective treatment. Often, patients do not get help for their Depressive disease because they, their family members and relatives, and sometimes family physicians do not recognisethese symptoms.