Join Now | Sign in

Depressive Disorders Health Article

Media Gallery

	The Psychological Impact of Hair Loss play video read transcript
	The Link Between Sleep and Depression play video read transcript
	Shedding Light on Seasonal Depression play video read transcript
	What is Depression? play video read transcript
	Separating Depression From Being Blue play video read transcript
	Treating Major Depression play video read transcript

Marketplace

Licensed from

Page: < Back 1 2 3 4

Parental concerns

Children who are diagnosed with depression should be reassured that the condition is quite common and that it is due to factors beyond their control (i.e., genetics, neurochemical imbalance) rather than any fault of the child. For those children and teens who feel stigmatized or self-conscious about their depression, arranging psychotherapy sessions outside school hours may lessen their burden. Any child prescribed antidepressants should be carefully monitored for any sign of side effects, and these should be reported to their physician when they do occur. A dosage adjustment or medication change may be warranted if side effects are disruptive or potentially dangerous.

KEY TERMS

Hypersomnia—An abnormal increase of 25% or more in time spent sleeping. Individuals with hypersomnia usually have excessive daytime sleepiness.

Neurotransmitter—A chemical messenger that transmits an impulse from one nerve cell to the next.

Psychomotor agitation—Disturbed physical and mental processes (e.g., fidgeting, wringing of hands, racing thoughts); a symptom of major depressive disorder.

Psychomotor retardation—Slowed mental and physical processes characteristic of a bipolar depressive episode.

See also Bipolar disorder.

BOOKS

Barnard, Martha Underwood. Helping Your Depressed Child. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2003.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,4th ed., text revision (DSM-IV-TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, 2000.

Shaffer, David, and Bruce Waslick, eds. The Many Faces of Depression in Children and Adolescents. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, 2002.

PERIODICALS

"A Natural Mood-Booster that Really Works: A Group of Noted Researchers Found that the Supplement SAMe Works as Well as Antidepressant Drugs." Natural Health (July 2003): 22.

"FDA Approves Once-daily Supplement." Biotech Week (September 24, 2003): 6.

"Try Alternatives Before Using Antidepressants." GP (September 29, 2003): 12.

Vitiello, B., and S. Swedo. "Antidepressant Medications in Children." New England Journal of Medicine 350, no. 15 (April 8, 2003): 1489–91.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Psychiatric Association. 1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1825, Arlington, VA 22209. Web site: <www.psych.org>.

American Psychological Association (APA). 750 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002–4242. Web site: <www.apa.org>.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). 730 N. Franklin St., Suite 501, Chicago, IL 60610. Web site: <www.dbsalliance.org>.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). Colonial Place Three, 2107 Wilson Blvd., Ste. 300, Arlington, VA 22201–3042. Web site: <www.nami.org>.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Office of Communications, 6001 Executive Blvd., Room 8184, MSC 9663, Bethesda, MD 20892–9663. Web site: <www.nimh.nih.gov>.

WEB SITES

Larsen, Willow. "The Obesity-Depression Link." Psychology Today (May 30, 2003). Available online at <www.psychologytoday.com/htdocs/prod/ptoarticle/pto-20030527-000010.asp> (accessed December 26, 2004).

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Antidepressant [links]." Available online at <www.fda.gov> (accessed December 26, 2004).

Paula Ford-Martin Teresa Odle

Page: < Back 1 2 3 4