Comparing Symptoms of Normal Moodiness With Depression in Children
Topic Overview
It is normal for your growing child to be moody or somewhat irritable
as he or she moves through adolescence. But symptoms of prolonged sadness or
irritability and a loss of pleasure in activities the child once enjoyed can
indicate depression. Depression is not a normal part of growing up. Deciding
whether your child's behavior is normal or a symptom of depression can be
difficult.
A family history of
depression,
substance abuse, or
anxiety increases your child's risk of developing
depression. A child is also more likely to become depressed if a parent is
depressed.
Your child may need to be evaluated for depression if he or
she:
- Is continuously sad or irritable, and not just
with parents, but even with friends.
- Is sad or irritable without a
known trigger (no recent experience, such as being rejected by peers, caused
the mood change).
- Shows no pleasure with friendships or activities
once enjoyed, such as sports or hobbies.
- Doesn't ask for added
privileges, such as driving the car or going out with friends on a school
night.
- Displays unprovoked or unexplained anger or anxiety,
especially in a preadolescent.
- Complains of symptoms such as
headache or stomach pain that have no physical cause.
- Breaks down
crying often and doesn't know why.
- Has a sudden, noticeable
decrease in school performance.
Most children will experience some unexplained sadness or boredom on
occasion. Asking your child a few questions about how he or she is feeling
overall may help identify mild or moderate depression, which is more difficult
to recognize than symptoms of major depression. Some examples of questions to
ask your child to help you decide if your child needs to see a health
professional for possible depression might include:
- Do you feel angry most of the
time?
- Do you feel sad every day?
- Do you laugh with your
friends?
- Do you feel happy when you are doing things you enjoy,
like a favorite hobby or a sport?
- Do you feel like you get upset
easily and you don't know why?
- Do you stay sad or mad for a long
time?
While questions such as these will not diagnose depression, they can
open the doors of communication with your child and help you decide whether
your child needs to be further assessed by a health professional.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry |
|---|
| Last Revised | April 5, 2011 |
|---|
Last Revised:
April 5, 2011
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
