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What is the leading cause of depression in children?

What is the leading cause of depression in children?

Depression is more common in people whose blood relatives — such as a parent or grandparent — also have the condition. Early childhood trauma. Traumatic events during childhood, such as physical or emotional abuse, or loss of a parent, may cause changes in the brain that make a person more susceptible to depression.

What medication is used for depression in children?

Fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and sertraline (Zoloft) are recommended as first-line treatments for childhood and adolescent depression. Treatment of major depression in children and adolescents should continue for at least six months.

What are the long term effects of childhood depression?

(26) reported that early adolescent depression continued to be associated with poorer interviewer-rated health, poorer self-perceived general health, higher health care utilization, and increased work impairment due to physical health. Co-morbid disorders seem to predict a more severe course.

What is the best medication for a child with anxiety?

The clear medications of choice for treating anxiety in children are the serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the antidepressants. Study after study shows those are the medicines that are effective, and they can be extremely effective.

What are the consequences of not diagnosing depression in children?

It is a serious health condition, which if left untreated, increases risk of future, prolonged and more severe depressive episodes. Untreated depression in childhood and adolescence can pose risk of suicide.

What do I do if my child has anxiety?

If your child has an anxiety disorder, here are some ways you can help:

  1. Find a trained therapist and take your child to all the therapy appointments.
  2. Talk often with the therapist, and ask how you can best help your child.
  3. Help your child face fears.
  4. Help kids talk about feelings.