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Child and Teen Depression

Related Clinical Studies

Children’s is currently enrolling children and teens in three clinical studies to better understand depression and bipolar disorder:

We all want children to grow up happy and healthy. But having a child or teen who suffers from depression or bipolar disorder is more common than people may think. In fact, depression is the most common mental health disorder in the United States.

Until recent years, many people did not know that children and teens could suffer from depression or bipolar disorder. Experts now tell us that these and other emotional and behavioral disorders can begin in early childhood. In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that one in 10 children and teens in the United States suffers from mental illness severe enough to cause problems. These problems affect how kids are able to function at home, at school and in the community.

Parents and other caregivers who think their child or teen may be depressed or suffer from bipolar disorder should know the signs and symptoms of these disorders and know where to get help and support.  

What are depression and bipolar disorder?

Most children and teens have brief periods of depressed or grouchy moods, usually after a disappointment. These types of feelings are normal in children and teenagers.

Child and teen depression is not just a passing “phase” that they grow out of, or feeling sad or down for a few days. Instead, depression is a serious medical illness that affects a child’s or teen’s body, mood and thoughts, lasts for long periods of time (weeks, months or even longer) and affects their ability to function normally.

Parents need to get help for their child or teen when they notice all the following:

  • Multiple signs and symptoms of depression are occurring at the same time.
  • The signs stay through most of the day, nearly every day for at least two weeks.
  • Your child or teen is also having a hard time taking part in school, family or social activities.

Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder  that used to be referred to as manic-depressive illness. It involves periods in which a person experiences serious changes in their mood that are much more intense than children’s usual mood swings. The word bipolar refers to the two poles of moods — mania and depression. Episodes include many symptoms that happen at the same time and that include major changes in mood, behavior, thoughts and body functions. Children and teens with bipolar disorder often experience extreme “highs” and “lows” that can last for days, weeks or even months. 

What are the signs and symptoms I should look for in my child?

Depression

According to the NIMH, depressed children at a younger age may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent or worry that a parent may die. Teenagers who are depressed may feel misunderstood, withdraw from spending time with friends or taking part in activities they usually enjoy, struggle with grades or behaving well at school or be negative and grouchy. Children and teens may show the following signs and symptoms of clinical depression:

  • Depressed mood and/or loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy
  • Sleep problems, including insomnia, oversleeping or waking early in the morning
  • Appetite changes
  • Loss of self-esteem
  • Sense of hopelessness or guilt
  • Decreased energy or fatigue
  • Difficulties in concentration, memory and decision-making
  • Thoughts of death and dying, sometimes with active suicidal plans

Bipolar Disorder

Children and teens with bipolar disorder experience severe mood swings – episodes of “highs” (mania) and “lows” (depression) – often with normal moods in between. These mood swings cause great harm in how a child or teen functions in school, with peers and at home with family. The NIMH says to look for these signs and symptoms of “highs” and “lows”:

“Highs”

  • Severe changes in mood, either extremely irritable or overly silly and happy
  • Overly-high self-esteem
  • Increased energy
  • Decreased need for sleep, ability to go with very little or no sleep for days without tiring
  • Increased talking, talking too much, too fast; changes topics too quickly; cannot be interrupted
  • Distractibility, attention moves constantly from one thing to the next
  • Hypersexuality, increased sexual thoughts, feelings, or behaviors; use of explicit sexual language
  • Increased goal-directed activity or physical agitation
  • Disregard of risk, more involvement in risky behaviors or activities

“Lows” 

  • Sad or irritable mood that lasts
  • Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
  • Big changes in appetite or body weight
  • Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
  • Physical agitation or slowing
  • Loss of energy
  • Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

It is important to understand that children and teens typically do not show all of these symptoms at the same time, but that parents should take note if their child or teen shows several of these signs and symptoms and consult their child’s or teen’s doctor.

What treatments and other help are available?

Although it is a serious illness, depression is highly treatable. If depression is diagnosed by a child psychologist or a child psychiatrist, there are a variety of psychotherapies (“talk therapies”) and antidepressant medicines that can be used to treat depressive disorders.

There is no known cure for bipolar disorder, but it can be treated and managed. Psychotherapy and medicines that stabilize moods, such as lithium and/or valproate, are key parts in successful treatment, along with support and education about the illness.

Are treatments tested for children and teens?

Treatments for mood disorders are mainly based on how adults have responded because there is very little information about how medicines affect children and teens. Efforts to learn more about new treatments for mood disorders in youth are under way and researchers here at Children’s are actively involved in this work. Children’s researchers are currently recruiting children and teens to be involved in studies to learn more about how best to treat both depression and bipolar disorder.  Information about these studies can be found in the Related Clinical Studies box at the top of this page.

Parents and caregivers can find out more information about mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder, at these Web sites:
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Institute of Mental Health