| Treatment for childhood depression varies. | | | | to use positive coping behaviors instead of |
| What works for one child may not necessarily | | | | avoiding situations or giving up. When |
| work for another. | | | | therapy has been completed, the child may |
| | | | benefit from scheduled or "as-needed" booster |
| The first and most important step is finding | | | | sessions. |
| a child psychiatrist to evaluate and treat a | | | | |
| depressed child. A child psychiatrist has | | | | If therapy does not produce enough |
| received specialized training in diagnosing | | | | improvement then an anti-depressant may be |
| and treating psychiatric disorders in | | | | added to the regime. Again, this depends on |
| children. Other health care practitioners | | | | the degree of the depression. If it is severe |
| including family doctors and pediatricians | | | | depression or there is serious acting out |
| may have taken a course in child psychiatry, | | | | your health care provider may start |
| but a great majority are not experts in the | | | | medication at the beginning of the treatment. |
| field. | | | | |
| | | | The medical treatment of child and adolescent |
| As a general rule, with mild to moderate | | | | depression using SSRIs (Selective Serotonin |
| depression, one first tries psychotherapy. | | | | Reuptake Inhibitors -- Prozac, Zoloft, |
| This may include family therapy to help the | | | | Lexapro, etc.) has proven very beneficial. |
| members of the family in understanding | | | | The side effects of SSRIs are not as annoying |
| depression and what the depressed child is | | | | as those of the older medications and are |
| experiencing. | | | | less toxic in overdoses. Compared to adults, |
| | | | adolescents are a bit more likely to become |
| It has been shown that family therapy can | | | | agitated or to develop a mania while taking |
| speed recovery and help prevent a relapse. | | | | an SSRI. |
| Discussions with your health care provider | | | | |
| can help you determine which psycho | | | | The doctor should warn you about the symptoms |
| therapeutic method is best suited for your | | | | of mania, especially if there is a family |
| child. | | | | history of Bipolar Disorder. If your child |
| | | | has had a manic episode in the past, some |
| Studies have shown that treatment for | | | | doctors will suggest adding a mood stabilizer |
| childhood depression using | | | | like Lithium or Depakote. |
| cognitive-behavioral therapy may work the | | | | |
| fastest, but the child's psychiatrist will | | | | The treatments for childhood depression vary |
| determine which method is best. | | | | from child to child. Using psychotherapy, |
| | | | medication, or a combination of both can help |
| Cognitive therapy works by helping a child | | | | your child overcome depression. And the best |
| examine and correct negative thought patterns | | | | news of all is that childhood depression can |
| and erroneous negative assumptions about them | | | | be treated successfully. |
| self. Behaviorally, it encourages the child | | | | |