Mood disorders in children have symptoms that depend on the type of disorder. Depression is the most common type, while bipolar disorder exhibits symptoms of both depressive and manic mood disorders. Treatment involves medication and psychological therapy.
The symptoms of mood disorders in children depend largely on the type of disorder suffered. Depressive disorders, the most common type in children, are often manifested by general sadness, an inability to experience pleasure regardless of the stimulus, and unexplained bouts of fatigue. Additionally, each distinct type of depressive disorder has a set of symptoms that set it apart from the rest. Bipolar disorder, on the other hand, exhibits symptoms of both depressive and manic mood disorders. Mood disorders in children can also result from exposure to mood-altering substances, such as alcohol and some drugs.
Although mood disorders in children are relatively rare compared to those experienced by adults, they do occur in significant numbers. Aside from situational precursors, such as poverty and family problems, mood disorders can be genetically inherited. Most experts agree, however, that heredity only predisposes patients to psychological disorders and that mood disorders are triggered by external stimuli.
Symptoms of mood disorders in children are often easier to spot than those in adults, as children are less likely to hide them. Depressed children, for example, are more likely to express their sadness in a public forum than depressed adults. Other symptoms of depression commonly expressed by children are insomnia, excessive sleep, and a lack of desire to seek out pleasurable activities. Depressed children may also express suicidal thoughts, but most adults take such statements for granted.
Depression is an umbrella term for depressive mood disorders in children. Specific varieties carry distinctive symptoms; psychotic major depression, for example, can cause the child to have delusions and hallucinations. Atypical depression, on the other hand, may have symptoms not usually expressed by depressed individuals, such as weight gain and an abnormally positive attitude. Another form of depression, seasonal affective disorder, is characterized by bouts of depression lasting the winter seasons that disappear during the spring.
Children are also known to suffer from bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder. This mood disorder is characterized by common symptoms of depression offset by periods of extreme mania. Children in a manic state are often hyperactive, irritable, and overconfident. Manic children also tend to have extraordinarily flighty thoughts and unpredictable mood swings.
Treatment for mood disorders in children often consists of a combination of medications and psychological therapy. Medication is provided for symptom management while therapists try to address the underlying causes of the ailments. In cases where the cause of the disorder is a biological deficiency, the child may need lifelong medication.
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