Depression

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in childhood features a depressed or irritable mood and a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities for at least 2 weeks.  These symptoms represent a change from the child’s normal mood and result in impairment in the child’s school and interpersonal functioning.  MDD is one of the most common and serious mental health problems facing children and adults today.  Every year, more than 1 in 20 Americans experience a depressive episode.  Key symptoms include:

• Depressed or irritable mood
• A loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities
• Significant weight loss or weight gain
• Sleep disturbance
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Difficulty concentrating or indecisiveness
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide