babble » blogs » Strollerderby
Strollerderby
They Say: Thousands of 3-Year-Olds Depressed
Sometimes a grumpy kid is just that: a grumpy kid. And sometimes a grumpy kid is actually, clinically, depressed. At least according to new research may show depression can be chronic in children as young as 3.
Three!
Clinicians used to think that kids younger than six couldn’t be chronically depressed — that they were too immature to actually experience depression. Then an more recent study claimed 2 percent of all preschoolers — nearly 160,000 were depressed at one time or another.
This new study, out of Washington University in St. Louis medical school and published in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, tracked 200 3- to 6-year-old preschoolers, 75 of whom had been diagnosed with major depression.
From the AP:
Among initially depressed children, 64 percent were still depressed or had a recurrent episode of depression six months later, and 40 percent still had problems after two years. Overall, nearly 20 percent had persistent or recurrent depression at all four exams.
Those who started out in the study depressed were also found to be four times as likely to be depressed 12 and 24 months later. The chronically depressed kids were the ones who were most severely depressed at the beginning of the study.
So what constitutes a depressed kid? How did these researchers determine who was depressed, who was sad and who was simply just kinda dour and mellow?
Instead of bouncy back after a bad mood, depressed kids tended to be sad even when playing, according to the study’s authors. Their games tend to have themes of death or somber topics. Lack of appetite, frequent tantrums, biting, hitting and sleep problems are also signs of depression in the very young.
“[A]nother sign is being preoccupied with guilt over common mishaps. For example, a depressed 3-year-old who accidentally breaks a glass might keep saying, “Mommy, I’m sorry I did that,” and appear unable to shake off that sense of guilt for days, [an author of the study] said.
Depression was most commonly found in kids whose mothers (of course!) suffered from depression or mood disorders. But also was predictable in those who had experienced the death of a parent or physical or sexual trauma.
Not everyone agrees with the findings and some argue the diganostic tools for depression in children aren’t as tested as the ones used for adults.
While it’s hard to believe kids so young could be experiencing a chronic condition like depression, if the study’s findings hold, researchers will be in a better position to start considering earlier intervention and treatment.
Still, three!
More Posts:
Mother Develops Allergy to her Own Baby
Breastfeeding Moms Pose for Provocative Calendar
Two Dozen Women Gather to Nurse Other Mom’s Baby
Issues! What’s the Optimal Child Spacing?
Parents Favor PFBs to NSCs — at Least in Actions
Dying Mom Trains Dad to Braid Hair, Turn on Dishwasher
Photo: LA Times
Go Back To Strollerderby
0 Comments
[...] They Say: Thousands of 3-Year-Olds Depressed [...]
‘Expressing Motherhood’ Tells Motherhood Like It is | Strollerderby commented on Aug 04 09 at 11:19 pm[...] child pretty seriously. By the time they agree to treat their child with psychotropic drugs for depression, bipolar disorder or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, most parents have exhausted other [...]
Are Parents the Root of Behavioral Problems? | Strollerderby commented on May 05 10 at 10:34 am[...] These disorders can interfere with the way children think, feel, and act. Research shows that kids as young as 3 can experience chronic depression. [...]
Five Myths About Mental Illness in Kids | Strollerderby commented on May 06 10 at 10:29 amScientist commented on Aug 04 09 at 1:45 pmAwesome! A new market for selling drugs opens up. Better yet, this market will be fueled by one of the most powerful motivators known: parental anxiety. Lets buy some pharma stock!
Ali commented on Aug 04 09 at 2:56 pmInfants who are not handled or severely neglected can actually die from depression. They stop eating, stop growing. I dont see how this is news.
Sue commented on Aug 18 09 at 9:31 amThis is news to me and alarming news at that! As young as three to be depressed! I dont ever remeber that term even being familiar to me till my 20s maybe I was clueless or too sheltered but clinical depression is not something to be diagnosed or taken lightly! Mayeb the kids need some play activity involvement from preants maybe they have a volitile family life…any number of things that upset the equilibrium is to blame here. the very last thing to label a three year old is clinically depressed! I am old fashioned in the sense that I dpnt believe we need to diagnose every littel thing and give it a label. In this society everything must have a label…if a kid is active we call them ‘hyper’ if a parent is protective we call them ‘helicopter moms’ too liberal a ‘free ranger’….no children ‘child free’..the labeling has taken on a siniser hue if you ask me in labelling children as young as three clinically depressed!
Sue commented on Aug 18 09 at 9:32 ami have talked about this in detail on http://www.truuconfessions.com/mom
Jess commented on Apr 08 11 at 9:58 amI am not a mother, but having suffered depression my whole life I can say with some certainty that this is possible – perhaps not in the numbers they suggest, but possible. I had what most people would classify as a wonderful childhood, and yet from as far back as I can remember, I struggled with strong feelings of depression. It took me years to discover that what I was experiencing was not the norm – I honestly thought that everyone else was constantly and utterly miserable behind closed doors and just hid it better than me. My parents were incredibly attentive, loving and supportive but of course would never consider that I was depressed at such a young age. I am in no way suggesting that we should start drugging toddlers but perhaps offering some kind of support to kids in need so they can get happier, faster – and hopefully ease the pain of adolescence when depression can quickly become more dangerous.
Add your take:
Note: Babble is a supportive, diverse community. We encourage a range of opinions,
but any unduly hostile comments will be removed.
Comments are delayed up to 15 minutes
Joslyn Gray 
Amber Doty 
Julianna Miner 
Monica Bielanko 
Sierra Black 
Meredith Carroll 
Carolyn Castiglia 
Sunny Chanel 
Madeline Holler 
Wendy Michaels 
Rebecca Odes 
Danielle Smith 
Danielle Sullivan 
Katherine Stone 
The Walt Disney Company supports Babble as a platform dedicated to honest, engaged, informed, intelligent and open conversation about parenting. However, the opinions expressed on this site are those of individual parents/writers and do not reflect the views of Disney. In addition, content provided on this site is for entertainment or informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or safety advice.
0