Depression in Preschoolers: Signs and Symptoms
It’s a normal thing for people to get into slumps, emotionally drained and sad. However, depression is different, it is a serious condition that requires treatment. Depression can happen to anyone, but people who have a genetic relative with a mood disorder are much more likely to develop the serious condition.
When depression occurs in children, it can often be misdiagnosed due to the mental make-up of children. They may not present the standard symptoms like lack of pleasure or dejection.
German scientists studying depression in children have found that while they may not present the above symptoms (which are very commonplace in adults) they have their own symptoms they do present.
Depending on the age of the child, the dominant features of depression may be weeping, irritability or defiance.
The signs of depression in infants are often screaming, restlessness, and weeping attacks for no clear reason.
Preschool children may behave irritably and aggressively, while schoolchildren may be listless and apathetic. The symptoms in adolescents become similar to those in adults.
(Source)
While a certain percentage of cases with childhood depression may simply resolve themselves, it’s important to also know that a child exhibiting signs of depression could have an underlying disorder commonly linked to it. Many anxiety and mood disorders may present themselves as depression and graduate into something more severe.
As with many things treatment and knowledge is the key.
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