Depression In Children Dubai | Common, Know How To Help
Depression in children Dubai: It can be overwhelming. Know what it is, its causes, prevalence, and how you can help
Please invest a few minutes of your time to watch the depression in children Dubai video below. Or if you prefer to read, then feel free to skip the video and go straight to the text below:
Depression in children Dubai: To receive information to help your child send me a WhatsApp message on +971525608641
Depression in children Dubai: Introduction
To define it as a disorder it must fulfill certain criteria:
- Anhedonia or loss of interest or pleasure
- Low self-esteem
- Sleep disturbances
- Appetite changes
These should be present for 2 weeks or longer and affect social life and work or school functioning.
Problems arise whilst diagnosing depression in children for two reasons:
- They are unable to express their feelings
- The effect of development changes the classical symptoms of depression seen in adults
Hence a child may become more difficult, aggressive and even hyperactive –known as Masked Depression in the past.
Also, these children may lose interest in having friends or school work. And may become addicted to computers and television.
Depression in children Dubai: To receive information to help your child send me a WhatsApp message on +971525608641
Depression in children Dubai: Common disorder
Depression is the second most common disorder seen in primary medical practice. Some studies show that 57% of children with learning difficulties also have depression.
Depression impacts the quality of life and causes functional impairment. Apart from that, suicide is one of the most worrying complications of depression.
Treating depression requires:
- A complete evaluation of the symptoms
- Physical and laboratory evaluation to assess causes
- Environmental contributors
- Impact of this complex disorder on the child
Depression in children Dubai: Causes
Depression can be caused by medical problems like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and the effect of certain medicines.
It can be part of other mental disorders like Anxiety.
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), language delay as well as children who have suffered from bullying or parental abuse are at a higher risk for depression.
Depression is also part of mood disorders.
Depression includes Dysthymia, Bipolar Disorder, Minor depression, Situational adjustment reaction with depressed mood, Grief, and Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Depression In Children Dubai
Depression in children Dubai: To receive information to help your child send me a WhatsApp message on +971525608641
Depression in children Dubai: Treatment decisions
Prognosis and treatment decisions must be based on specific diagnoses.
- Major depression and dysthymia are both responsive to drug therapy and psychotherapy
- Individuals experiencing normal grief may have symptoms of depression and can exhibit the complete syndrome of major depression
- Normal grief should be differentiated from other mood disturbances because prognosis and treatment are different
- Minor depression, and in particular situational adjustment reaction with depressed mood, should be differentiated from major depression because drug therapy has not been shown to be effective. Supportive counseling and careful assessment over time are indicated
- Patients with bipolar disorder and depression require mood stabilizer medication before or concurrently with antidepressant medication to prevent precipitating a manic episode
- Seasonal Affective Disorder involves recurrent episodes of major depression, usually occurring in the fall and winter months, and may respond to light therapy
Depression in children Dubai: To receive information to help your child send me a WhatsApp message on +971525608641
Depression in children Dubai: Managing depression
Psychotherapy
This includes:
- Cognitive therapy
- Interpersonal therapy
- Problem-Solving Therapy
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Therapy may include identifying negative habitual thinking and restructuring mistaken beliefs.
It would include identifying errors in thinking such as:
- Overgeneralizing
- Magnifying negatives
- Minimizing positives
- Catastrophizing
With more realistic and effective thoughts, thus decreasing emotional distress and self-defeating behavior.
Medication
Medication forms an important part of treatment though certain types of depressions like minor depression do not respond well to them.
Common drugs used include second generation anti-depressants like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) or Bupropion.
The medicine usually needs to be continued for 4 to 9 months to achieve complete remission. Unfortunately, 50% of patients may have a relapse. A certain percent may need life-long treatment.
Drug treatment coupled with psychotherapy gives the best results.
Lifestyle changes
Finally, and important lifestyle changes should be made to remove stressors and allow recovery from precipitating events.
Yoga, breathing, sleep hygiene, regular physical exercise, and a nutritious diet are some of the lifestyle changes that are effective.
To conclude, Depression is a real but complex disorder with many sub-types. Treatment includes psychotherapy, medication and lifestyle changes.
Medical causes, contributors, and co-morbid conditions must be ruled out. Treatment aims are complete remission and prevention of the high of relapse.
Depression In Children Dubai
Depression in children Dubai: To receive information to help your child send me a WhatsApp message on +971525608641
If you like what you have seen or read about depression in children Dubai, please share it with your friends by clicking on one of the social media buttons below.
Go from depression in children Dubai to Pediatrician Dubai homepage
