Although depression can be seen in every period of childhood, its specific causes, symptoms and treatment differ from adult depression. For example, adolescents experience extreme depression and carry a high risk of suicide in accordance with the “variable” characteristics of the period they live in.
While depression occurs due to the long-term loss of the primary caregiver (mostly the mother) during infancy, psychosocial stressors (illness, moving, loss of attached people in real or imagined, sibling birth) in early and play period childhood are important causes. is reported as.
In addition to the above-mentioned stressor factors, disappointments in school success, problems in friendships and biological factors are also encountered during the school period.
In the adolescence period, problems in friendships, especially disappointments with the opposite sex, failures in school success, loss of relatives, important medical diseases that affect effectiveness, life activity, and genetic and biological factors are among the causes.
Developmental delay, apathy, sleep and eating disorders in infancy should suggest depression, especially in case of maternal deprivation.
In the play period, there are signs of extreme moodiness or withdrawal, deterioration in sleep and eating habits, night fears, irritability in behavior, decrease in wishes, dreams and hopes, or impoverishment. During this period, physical complaints are common and are in the form of headaches and stomachaches.
During the school period, decrease in school success, deterioration in friendships, behavioral problems, sleep and appetite disorders (similar to adults), decrease in interests and activities, impoverishment in wishes, dreams and hopes, or concentrating on issues that are sad, depressed or restless affect, thoughts of death, feelings of guilt, being away from home or school or running away from school (even suicidal plans), somatic complaints may occur.
Adolescents normally experience marked and sudden changes in their feelings, thoughts and relationships, “instability” which is characteristic of the period they live in. Their perceptions and judgments are exaggerated, they make snap decisions and act impulsively. Adolescents with depression may experience these changes more rapidly and severely, as in adults, withdrawal, decrease in interest and activities, deterioration in friendships, decrease in school success, avoiding school and home, tendency to use substance-alcohol, suicidal thoughts and attempts can be seen. There may be depressed mood, feelings of guilt, or extreme anger.
