Things to Think About With Childrens' Mood Disorders

Depression may be seen as the primary condition bringing the patient to the health care facility, or it may be masked by anxiety and somatic complaints. The depressed person has a mood disturbance.

Clinical manifestations may include sadness, apathy, feelings of worthlessness, self-blame, suicidal thoughts, desire to escape, avoidance of simple problems, anorexia and weight loss, decreased interest in sex, sleeplessness, and ceaseless activity or reduction in activity.

The agitated depressed individual may exhibit motor restlessness and severe anxiety.

Among the many victims of depression, the children are considered the most fragile and most affected individuals. That is because children have little means of coping up with their condition.

Experts say that it is actually normal for children to be depressed occasionally or in one way or another. However, if the condition persists, it may need further attention and treatment.

Depression in children is a clinical manifestation of childrens' mood disorders. Even if the environment may seem likely to be the cause, health experts say that a child's mood disorder can be attributed to the child’s family history regarding mood disorders.

To know more about childrens mood disorders, here are some things that you need to know:

1. Most emotional and mood disorders in children are related to family dynamics and the place the child occupies in the family group.

2. Children must be understood and treated within the context of their families

3. Many children's mood disorders are related to the phase of development through which the children are passing.

4. Children are not miniature adults. They have special needs. Hence, the treatment of their disorders should be patterned on their needs and not on the adults.

Even if it deals with depression, childrens mood disorders have different ways of categorizing the problem and require a different approach.

5. Play and food are important media to make contact with children and help them release emotions in socially acceptable forms, prepare them for traumatic events, and develop skills.

In most cases, getting through the mood disorder phase of the child is notably difficult. With so little knowledge on how to cope up with what they are feeling, children have greater tendencies to fall back and fail than adults.

Management

The depressed patient benefits from ventilating personal feelings and should be provided an opportunity to talk about personal problems, or at least express themselves in order to communicate what they have in mind or what they feel inside.

Sudden worsening of depression is an important clue. The worst scenario here is that any depressed patient may be at risk for suicide.

Attempted suicide is an act that stems from depression, such as loss of a loved one especially a parent at an early age, loss of body integrity or status, poor self-image, etc.

To treat the disorder, the family should be the first one to initiate the treatment. The family plays a central role in the life of the child who is suffering from a mood disorder and is a major part in the context of the patient’s life.

It is within families that people grow, are nurtured, attain a sense of self, cultivate beliefs and values about life, and progress through life’s developmental stages.

The family is also the first source for socialization and teaching about health and illness. When a family member becomes ill, all members of the family are affected.

Treatment may range from pure “psychotherapy” sessions, while others may require medical treatment. Whatever the form of treatment will be, the family should be there to make several adaptations to their existing lifestyles or even restructure their lifestyles in order to cope up with the needs of their child who is undergoing treatment.