Depression in children is underestimated

Child depression is often misjudged

03/02/2015

Parents often appeal to their offspring: „Come on“ or ask the little ones: „Just laugh a bit“. But neither one nor the other is helpful. More and more frequently, doctors diagnose depression in children and adolescents. Child and adolescent psychiatrists in Germany are alarmed.

Diagnoses increased significantly in the past ten years
The „widespread disease“ Depression, which is generally considered to be affecting adults, is evidently catching up with children and adolescents. According to a report by the news agency dpa, Gerd Schulte-Körne from the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Munich said that the number of such diagnoses has increased significantly over the past ten years. „There is a dramatic increase in outpatient and inpatient care“, said the expert, who runs the congress of the German Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (DGKJP) from 4 to 7 March. In Munich, about 2,000 child and adolescent psychiatrists will become pregnant „Changed society - changed families“ and discuss the challenges of childhood and youth.

Parents, friends and teachers are more attentive today
„If a child was sad for a long time and retired, they did not take it seriously“, explained Schulte-Körne. But this could be the beginning of a depressive phase that can end untreated in alcohol, drugs, chronic depression or even suicide. However, parents, friends and teachers are more attentive today. Indications of depression may include baseless abdominal pain, anxiety, fatigue, and aggression. Specialists determine a depressive episode of several weeks or months in two to four percent of primary school age children. For adolescents, it is 14 percent, which is almost as much as 20 percent for adults. „We have so many children who are suffering from depression. But we still have very little knowledge of how we can help them“, explained Schulte-Körne. At least there are for the first time treatment guidelines: sports, light therapy, conversation and only in an emergency medication.

School overload and bullying in social networks
But even specialists would still use inappropriate methods of conversation or medication. In general, depression in children is underestimated. According to DGKJP, in addition to puberty, among other things, school overload and bullying in school or social networks are reasons for the high numbers of adolescents. It is said that nearly 30 percent of students are confronted with it. But about half of them do not talk about it and are ashamed of it „own failure“. „Stress through harassment and insult is a risk factor for depression that should not be underestimated“, so Schulte-Körne. In addition, the excessive use of the Internet and thus a changed sleep-wake rhythm add to the difficulty. „Through changing living environments, the children have fewer opportunities to compensate - they go out much less.“ And even though fresh air, light and movement are the best therapy.

Traumatic experiences a major risk for mental disorders
An early trauma remains a major risk for mental disorders. „Most affected are children who have had early traumatic experiences: sexual abuse, physical abuse“, explained Schulte-Körne. „We know that this still happens quite often - and is often looked the other way.“ And that, despite the whole enlightenment. In addition, refugee children are also at high risk who seek refuge in Germany after traumatic events more and more without parents. However, access to medical care is extremely difficult in housing and homes. „The municipalities have not yet recognized that the trauma of the youthful refugees can lead to significant mental health problems and therefore require specialist treatment“, so Schulte-Körne.

Dispute and separation of parents increase risk
Separation of parents also increases the risk. For example, a study conducted at the Department of General Education and Educational Research at the University of Munich found that children suffer from a variety of factors when they break up. These include the argument of the parents, the pressure to ally with a parent, the conversion to new partners of the parents and financial burdens. But the team around Sabine Walper also found out that a separation often hardly weighs more than the parents' continuous chatter. „How we try to accompany children early in separations and in difficult family situations“, explained Schulte-Körne. She further explained: „We have to go early to families where the parents are already suffering from depression.“ The disease also means stress for the children who are at greater risk.

Genetic predisposition to depression
As the dpa writes, there is indeed a genetic predisposition, for which the gene FKBP5 is an example. According to this, every second person has a certain variant of this gene that makes them more susceptible to stress. „With every little stress, more stress hormone is released. People have more difficulty coming back down“, said Elisabeth Binder from the Munich Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry. „If you then experience a trauma in childhood, you have a significantly higher risk of developing depression or posttraumatic stress disorder.“ Important goal is: „How can we prevent illness??“ The research is still in its infancy. Especially in children, the importance of the gene is largely unexplored. A study is currently underway at the Charité in Berlin in cooperation with the MPI. However, it will take years to get results that may allow for better treatment or prevention.

Reduce the risk of depressive episodes
Although, according to experts, depression can not always be prevented, certain factors can help reduce the risk of so-called depressive episodes. These include, for example, sporting activities such as cycling or swimming, but also methods for reducing stress. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, autogenic training, tai chi or progressive muscle relaxation can be used. In addition, aromatherapy can help to improve well-being and promote relief of pressure and tension. (Ad)