More children and adolescents with depression

More children and adolescents due to depression in clinic

04/03/2014

More and more children and adolescents in Germany have to be treated for depression in a clinic. In Hamburg, therefore, the number of in-patient treatment among 10- to 19-year-olds has increased almost eightfold within twelve years. This informed the health insurance DAK-health.

Number increased eightfold
In Germany, more and more children and adolescents have to be treated for depression in a clinic. Typical symptoms that occur with them are mood swings, listlessness, lack of concentration, lack of self-confidence or psychosomatic problems, such as sleep disorders. In Hamburg, the disease is so serious for more and more young people that an outpatient treatment is no longer sufficient and they have to be hospitalized in hospitals. For example, the number of in-patient treatments in the Hanseatic city of the 10 to 19-year-olds increased almost eightfold within twelve years. This informed the health insurance DAK health on Monday with reference to figures from the Federal Statistical Office for the years 2000 to 2012. Accordingly, the number of children and adolescents who were admitted from Hamburg's hospitals increased from 61 in 2000 to 474 in 2012.

Two-thirds of those affected are girls and young women
This increase was significantly higher than the national average, where the numbers had increased almost sixfold from 2,145 to 12,567 over the same period. The statistics also show that the proportion of inpatient treatment in Hamburg has increased in relation to the national average, from 1.8 percent in 2000 to 3.8 percent in 2012. In particular since 2009, both in the Hanseatic city and in the German average Number of treated cases increased significantly. In Hamburg, as well as in the whole of Germany, girls are much more affected by this disease than boys. About two-thirds of the patients are girls and young women.

Pressure to perform and uncertainty about future prospects
According to the „Hamburger Abendblatt“ The Director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Eppendorf University Hospital, Prof. Michael Schulte-Markwort, sees one of the reasons for the increase in the increase in exhaustion depression due to a burnout. This situation arises from pressure to perform while increasing uncertainty about the future prospects. Even though more girls than boys are affected, the child psychiatrist suspects that the boys are likely to grow in the future. In his opinion, it is mainly due to the increasing severity of the disease that more and more adolescents with depression in the clinic must.

Higher sensitivity in the population
However, the rising numbers are also considered by the DAK-health as a sign of a de-tabulation, which makes it easier for those affected to talk about the disease. The Hamburg DAK boss Regina Schulz said: „Today it is no longer a blemish if someone is suffering from depression.“ In addition, signs of a depressive disorder would be much more likely to be recognized. Meanwhile there is also a higher sensitivity for mental illness in the population. However, my experts believe that childhood and adolescent depression is still overlooked. The German Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, which concludes that most depressed children and adolescents are not treated at all or on an outpatient basis. The professional society also estimates the increasing number of hospital stays in comparison to the frequency of the illness rather low and considers it above all as an expression of improved diagnostics.

Depression is treatable today
In this area looks loud „Hamburger Abendblatt“ also child psychiatrist Schulte-Markwort an improvement: „We diagnose the severe form of depression today at an earlier date.“ In the past, the diagnosis of those affected was often made years later in adulthood. If children show symptoms of depression, nobody should be shy to see a specialist. Nowadays, depression can be treated well and, in principle, an early treatment reduces the risk of the disease becoming chronic. In addition, the prognosis is better, the sooner the therapy begins. „Depending on the severity, psychotherapy and medications, known as antidepressants, are used for the treatment“, so Schulte-Markwort. According to the DAK, depression can usually be treated on an outpatient basis. For serious signs such as suicide, however, a hospital treatment is necessary. (Sb)