Depression already in preschool children

Depression already occurs in preschool children

04/26/2014

About one in five suffer from depression during their lifetime. As Leipzig researchers have now found, symptoms already indicate in preschool children on the widespread disease. For example, around twelve percent of a kindergarten year had increased anxiety and depressive moods.

Millions of people suffer from depression requiring treatment
According to the Bertelsmann Foundation, there are currently about 9 million people suffering from treatment-related depression, at least 15 percent of them in severe cases. Symptoms of the condition, such as anxiety, inner restlessness or sleep disturbances, are no longer uncommon in adults. But now researchers of the Leipzig University Hospital have determined by means of a study that even children can be affected. The Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Professor Kai von Klitzing and his team asked parents of a kindergarten class about anxiety and depression symptoms.

Twelve percent of the children showed increased anxiety and depressive mood
Of the more than 1,700 children examined, more than 200, or around 12 percent, showed increased anxiety and depressive moodiness. When compared with a group of children without depression, it turned out that six percent were seriously ill. The results of the study sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft were recently published in the journal „Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry“ released. Five-year-olds who showed little interest in playing in the kindergarten would hardly be noticed at first. „The focus is more on hyperactivity and aggression“, so children's therapist from Klitzing. „However, if a child is permanently sad, does not want to play or is listless in the corner, you should take a closer look. For adult depressive people often report that their illness began in childhood.“

Mental illnesses are today more socially recognized
However, even those at higher risk have experienced negative life experiences such as abuse and neglect even in early childhood. Other factors include the breaking of families and early pressure to perform. „Mental illnesses are more recognized in society today than they used to be“, said the psychotherapist. „Yet many believe that childhood is carefree. That's an illusion.“ Von Klitzing emphasized, however, that not every child who is anxious is depressed at the same time. Phobic symptoms such as the fear of darkness or of large animals are just as normal as the initial fear and sadness of separating from the parents in the morning in front of the kindergarten. „I find it important to identify those who really suffer and have real developmental problems.“

Psychoanalytic short-term treatment for children
Together with psychologist Tanja Göttken, von Klitzing has developed and scientifically researched a short-term psychoanalytic treatment for children from four to ten years of age in order to be able to treat quickly and to prevent chronification. In 25 therapy sessions, five of which take place with and 20 without parents, unprocessed conflicts of the child are worked out in conversations and at play. Von Klitzing explained: „It's not about simply eliminating the symptoms, but making it easier for children and parents to understand which unresolved development tasks are behind the symptoms.“

Children quickly feel guilty about family difficulties
Issues such as separation and guilt are very common in conflict management. „Children feel guilty quickly when there are family difficulties such as partnership problems or parental illness. Deep down, they feel that they can not do any better than their parents.“ He also reminds: „We just have to be careful that we do not blame the parents.“ In a recent in the international journal „Psychotherapy“ The first study on 30 children showed amazing results. Thus, the symptoms in all children compared to the control group decreased significantly, more than half of the children was in the end even completely trouble-free. The therapists saw this as a very satisfactory development, which also lasted more than six months after the end of therapy. „Nevertheless, some of the children will need longer psychotherapeutic treatment in order to be able to develop well in the long term.“ (Ad)