Major Depressive Disorder, Pediatric
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mental health condition. It may also be called clinical depression or unipolar depression. MDD causes symptoms of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in things. These symptoms last most of each day, almost every day, for 2 weeks. MDD can also cause physical symptoms. It can interfere with relationships and with school and other everyday activities.
MDD may be mild, moderate, or severe. It may be single-episode MDD, which happens once, or recurrent MDD, which may occur multiple times.
What are the causes?
The exact cause of this condition is not known.
What increases the risk?
The following factors may make a child more likely to develop MDD:
A family history of depression.
Being female.
Going through puberty.
Long-term (chronic) stress, chronic physical illness, other mental health disorders, or substance misuse.
Your child's growth and development, especially if your child has delayed development or early development.
- Trauma, including:
What are the signs or symptoms?
The main symptoms of MDD typically include:
Other symptoms include:
Sleeping or eating too much or too little.
Unexplained weight loss or weight gain.
Tiredness or low energy.
Being agitated, restless, or weak.
Feeling worthless or guilty.
Trouble thinking clearly or making decisions.
- Major changes in behavior. This may include:
Poor performance in school or having trouble with peers.
Acting out, such as misbehaving or being irritable.
Spending a lot of time alone.
Severe symptoms of this condition may include:
Psychotic depression.This may include false beliefs or delusions. This includes seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, or feeling things that are not real (hallucinations).
Chronic depression or persistent depressive disorder. This is low-level depression that lasts at least 2 years.
Melancholic depression, or feeling extremely sad and hopeless.
Catatonic depression, which includestrouble speaking and trouble moving.
Thoughts of suicide, thoughts of harming others, or wishing to be dead.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition may be diagnosed based on:
MDD is confirmed if your child has either a depressed mood or loss of interest and at least four other MDD symptoms, most of the day, nearly every day, in a 2-week period.
How is this treated?
This condition is usually treated by mental health care providers, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and clinical social workers. Your child may need more than one type of treatment. Treatment may include:
Follow these instructions at home:
Activity
- Help your child find healthy ways to manage stress, such as:
Meditation or deep breathing.
Exercise. This may include organized sports, recreational games, or play groups.
Spending time in nature.
Journaling.
-
Encourage your child to find activities they enjoy.
-
Have your child return to normal activities as told by the health care provider. Ask the health care provider what activities are safe for your child.
General instructions
-
Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child's health care provider.
-
Consider having your child join a support group. Your child's health care provider may be able to recommend one.
-
Keep all follow-up visits. Your child's health care provider will need to check on your child's mood, behavior, and medicines. Your child's treatment may need to be changed over time.
-
National Alliance on Mental Illness:
nami.org
-
-
Contact a health care provider if:
-
Your child hurts themselves on purpose (self-harm).
-
Your child thinks about harming themselves or harming others.
-
Your child has hallucinations.
Get help right away if you feel like your child may hurt themselves or others, or if they have thoughts about taking their own life. Go to your nearest emergency room or:
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
