Psychiatric Assessment and Fundamentals Q 20
When teaching parents about childhood depression Nurse Victoria should say?
A. It may appear acting out behavior.
B. Does not respond to conventional treatment.
C. Is short on duration & resolves easily.
D. Looks almost identical to adult depression.
Correct Answer: A. It may appear acting out behavior
Children have difficulty verbally expressing their feelings, acting out behavior, such as temper tantrums, may indicate underlying depression. Early medical studies focused on “masked” depression, where a child’s depressed mood was evidenced by acting out or angry behavior. While this does occur, particularly in younger children, many children display sadness or low mood similar to adults who are depressed. The primary symptoms of depression revolve around sadness, a feeling of hopelessness, and mood changes.
Option B: Treatment options for children with depression are similar to those for adults, including psychotherapy (counseling) and medication. The child’s doctor may suggest psychotherapy first, and consider antidepressant medicine as an additional option if there is no significant improvement. The best studies to date indicate that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is most effective at treating depression.
Option C: If the symptoms of depression in a child have lasted for at least two weeks, they should schedule a visit with their doctor to make sure there are no physical reasons for the symptoms and to make sure that the child receives proper treatment. A consultation with a mental health care professional who specializes in children is also recommended. Keep in mind that the pediatrician may ask to speak with the child alone.
Option D: Although some children may continue to function reasonably well in structured environments, most kids with significant depression will suffer a noticeable change in social activities, loss of interest in school and poor academic performance, or a change in appearance. Children may also begin using drugs or alcohol, especially if they are over age 12.