Treatment for Child Depression
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed psychological and psychiatric disorders. Depression can affect energy, mood, and the ability to express emotions and behaviors. Roughly one out of every 10 children suffer from the symptoms of depression and often have difficulty escaping or relieving the symptoms for long periods of time. The National Mental Health Institute reports the rate of depression for children younger than six years old at around 1 percent, while the rate in children seven years of age and older is upward of 12 percent.
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Therapy
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Many therapy treatment strategies are often used to treat childhood depression. Individual, group or family therapy techniques can be utilized at the discretion of the treating physician. Cognitive approaches to treatment are designed to change the negative conditions that have helped cause the depression. Behavioral approaches are designed to increase the number of pleasant activities that the child undertakes while monitoring specific behaviors and helping the child to come to terms with their own feelings and causes for the specific behavioral trends. Learning social skills and self-control help develop specific behavior patterns within children to enable them to regain control over their own actions while communicating their thoughts and feelings within a social network. Finally, interpersonal approaches help children to focus on their relationships and building strong, trusting relationships with friends and family.
Medication
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In addition to these techniques, medication can also be prescribed to help control the child's behaviors and temperaments. The medical names for the most common medicines are monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclics, Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox, imipramine and amitriptyline. These medicines have been known to be 50 to 70 percent effective among adults, but very little information is known on the effects on children. These drugs are high-risk and can include serious side effects that need to be closely monitored when prescribed to a child with depression.
Parent Involvement
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According to the Oregon Counseling Center, parents can struggle with the rash behaviors and sudden changes that occur within a child who develops depression. It is important that parents seek immediate advice and consult medical and crisis-intervention specialists in order to properly handle such situations. Parents must also monitor the use of drugs and alcohol, including any medications that may have been prescribed, to avoid abuse of these substances.
The parents of a child with depression should stay involved with the child's life as much as possible and take steps to reduce any exclusionary behaviors the child or the peers may be showing. Parents should also understand that a child's diet is very important, so the child should eat healthy foods that are high in nutritional value and make sure no meals are skipped. Proper sleep habits should also be exercised. Physical activity is crucial to help relieve stress and manage depression. Parents can sign their children up for a local sports team or purchase a membership with the local gym or YMCA.
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