Medicus, Vol. 13 No. 1_Depresija, 2004.
Review article
Depression in Children
Dubravka Kocijan Hercigonja
Vesna Hercigonja Novković
Abstract
Depression in children plays an important
role in childhood psychopathology. There are many differences
of opinion among professionals regarding its prevalence.
These differences arise from insufficiently harmonized
criteria applied in the diagnosis and evaluation of
depressive states, the clinical picture that is masked with
various behavioral problems as well as from frequent false
positive symptoms of some other disorders.
The prevalence of depression varies with respect to age,
and it is particularly present in children with various neurological
and pediatric disorders. The causes of depression
are numerous and they range from biological (almost identical
to those in adults) to especially important causes related
to parent-child and environment-child relationships (sociological,
behavioral, psychological and cognitive-distorsive
models have been most frequently mentioned in the etiology
of depression).
The treatment of depression in children follows the bio-psycho-
social approach that is applied through various individual,
group and pharmacological techniques.
Keywords
depression; children; psychotherapy; pharmacotherapy
Hrčak ID:
19810
URI
Publication date:
26.1.2004.
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