Depression in Pre-schoolers is Real, It Alters Their Brain Forever

Depression in children is not a fad - it is a real, shocking trend which can have a long-lasting impact on them

Only in the last 15 years have scientists started researching on depression in children. Now it is increasingly clear that children as little as 2 or 3 can have major depressive episodes (Photo: iStock)

As a parent of a two-year-old I know, a broken child’s heart heals the slowest. And parenting in the initial years is a lot of guesswork: what could be troubling your fussy child - is that the hunger cry, or the tired tears or is he crying because of colic?

Little children are mind-bogglingly vulnerable and have to be protected from anything and everything, but you will be surprised to learn that ‘infant depression’ could also be on that list!

Yes, depression does strike infants, toddlers and preschoolers as well. Last year in America, 20,000 children were put on anti-depressants and anti-psychotics for clinical depression.

A landmark new study has now found that depression can now alter the anatomy of the brain forever and hamper development. This is no fad. Hug your child and read below:

Little Kids Can Have Depression Too

A number of recent studies have found that toddlers and even babies can suffer from major depressive disorder. Doctors have now found that depression at such a young age is not an isolated blip in a child’s development, it is a sign of bigger health woes.

(Photo: iStock)

Scientists at the Washington University of Medicine have found that depression makes unique changes in the brain, that are linked to abnormal development as children age.

The study has been published in the medical journal JAMA Psychiatry, and it clearly shows that depression leads to thinner and lower volume in the cortex, an area of the brain that plays a key role in processing emotions.

Nobody believed preschoolers could get depressed. People generally assumed children under the age of six were too developmentally immature to experience the core emotions of depression. I am not sure the zeitgeist has changed as dramatically as it probably should, given the data that’s available.

<b>Dr Joan Luby, Director, Early Emotional Development Program, Washington University School of Medicine</b>

For the study, scientists looked at nearly 200 children in the ages of 3 and 6, more than half of them were diagnosed with major depressive disorder. These children were studied for more than 11 years and their brain scans clearly showed lesser, thinner and lower grey matter volume, that plays a key role in processing emotions.

The findings may help explain why children and others who are depressed have difficulty regulating their moods and emotions. (Photo: iStock)

The main challenge is to treat these kids with depression. These findings have been published in the latest edition of medical journal JAMA Psychiatry.

Depression Risk Starts in the Womb

Depression during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on the child (Photo: iStock)

Some people are always grappling with depression while others are not touched by a single episode - every wondered why? The answer is complex, but in short, most people are born with a genetic makeup that makes them prone to depression - but that does not mean they will automatically become depressed nor does it mean that anyone born with a different genetic makeup has a lifelong immunity from this ailment.

A UK study done in 2013 on 14,000 women found that children born to mothers who suffered depression in pregnancy had twice the risk.

Another 2014 study, found that 40% of all people who suffer from clinical depression can trace it to a genetic link. Also, if a person has a depressed relative, you are nearly five times more likely to suffer from depression than someone with a depression-free family tree.

Signs of Depression in Kids

The ‘clingy’ stage of children is done by the age of 3 or 4 years. If by 5 years, your child isn’t excited about meeting his friends, playing in the park, you have a clinically significant case - seek an appointment with a good psychiatrist. Here are the other signs of childhood depression:

A child who used to play often with friends may now spend most of the time alone and without interests. Things that were once fun now bring little joy to him, are signs of worry! (Photo: The Quint)

Remember that your preschooler can be in the dumps for a couple of days and that is completely normal, he or she being low for a week or a month is not. Depression is far more serious than a temporary change in mood.

Also Read: If Only People Treated Mental Health Problems Like Physical Issues