Search Results for: blog depression in children and adolescents1

More concerns with Prozac and other SSRIs

A psychiatrist who headed at team of researchers at Columbia University in New York City has found that young mice given Prozac grow into adult mice who display emotional problems, chiefly depression. The results add to the growing unrest concerning the effect of Prozac and other SSRI-type antidepressants on young children, adolescents, and the embryos of pregnant women. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac, Paxil and many other antidepressants in this family are coming under increasing scrutiny as their long term effects are not known. In the Columbia University experiment, young mice were injected with Prozac and given … Continue reading →

Depression in babies and young infants

Could you ever imagine a tiny baby being depressed? Although hard to believe, researchers have noted classic signs of depression in young babies, even those under the age of six months. Although most people associate the occurrence of depression with a series of negative life events, it has now been recognized that even babies as young as six months can display symptoms of depression. In particular, infants of depressed mothers exhibit depressive behaviors, such as a lack of responsiveness and interaction with others, lack of interest in their environment, unhappy facial expressions (as opposed to outright crying), and slow movements. … Continue reading →

Depressed Kids are More Likely to be Bullied

A new study finds that children who are depressed are more likely to become the target of bullies than their happier peers are. There are a number of reasons that explain why this happens. The affects of being depression last for much longer than the actual incident of being bullied does. Depression is a mental illness that can affect people of any age. This includes adolescents and children, as well as adults. Some parents may not be aware that it is even possible for their child to be experiencing a serious depression, (especially if their kid is still in elementary … Continue reading →

Beast – Margaret Wild

Jaime is superstitious and he’s also got obsessive compulsive disorder. He doesn’t know what he has; he only knows that if he doesn’t do certain repetitive things, he’ll have bad luck. Every night, he dreams that a beast comes and looks in his window. He’s terrified that someday, the beast will break through and get him, and he adds more repetitive things to his to-do list each day, but that list is taking longer to get through and his compulsion is starting to upset his daily schedule. Despite the fact that he has a loving, supportive family, he doesn’t feel … Continue reading →

Are You a Cyberchondriac?

There are hundreds of medical websites online, many offering self-diagnosis. Aligned with these sites are those selling medications online, often without a doctor’s prescription. The combination of these two facilities can be harmful to your health. The British medical journal The Lancet quotes one case where a woman diagnosed herself with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and self-medicated with steroid drugs which she obtained without prescription from Thailand. A few years down the track she was diagnosed with two eye complaints: side effects brought about by the continual use of these drugs. This case is just one of thousands that come to … Continue reading →

What would make a child depressed?

Children can suffer from depression just as adults can. But while mental health groups around the country struggle to increase awareness of the widespread nature of depression in adults, the equivalent illness in children is often very much swept under the carpet. One of the reasons why this occurs is that adults have an entrenched perception that children are very resilient. While this is generally true, and children do seem to bounce back after a distressing episode much more quickly than the majority of adults do, there is a limit to a child’s personal coping skills. Adults also seem to … Continue reading →

Disorder of the Day (1)

Illnesses such as depression, ADHD, and anxiety and behavioral disorders are being diagnosed in increasing numbers throughout First-World countries. While there is little doubt that people are being more up-front about mental illness, is this trend a true reflection of what is really happening in the lives of everyday people? A concerning aspect in this upswing in the use of medication to “solve” these conditions, is the accompanying upswing in the profits of the pharmaceutical industry. While most people have always traditionally wanted a “magic bullet” to solve their health problems, in the area of mental health, the pharmaceutical industry … Continue reading →

Helping Kids Deal With Stress

When we think of stress, we typically think about adults and stress but our kids are just as venerable to stress as we are. Some of the events that can cause stress to kids include: When their parents are having problems. Fighting with a friend or a sibling. Taking a test, grades, school and homework. Teens often stress over whether someone thinks they are attractive. Not having enough privacy. Transferring to a new school. Parent(s) remarrying. Not having enough money. Feeling a teacher does not like them. Peers, gossip and teasing. How do kids handle stress? According to a KidsHealth … Continue reading →