Diagnosis
The diagnosis of depression in childhood is based on the medical history (doctor-patient conversation) of the child and the parents. The age of the child and, depending on this, the mental maturity can make a decisive contribution to the diagnosis. Thus, in addition to the life situation of the child, the life situation of the parents is also taken into account, which should also be considered as the cause of the child’s depression.
Another basic criterion is the symptomatology that the child offers. The main symptoms are the child’s loss of interest and joylessness, a conspicuously high level of fatigue, lack of drive and depressive mood. In addition to this, further secondary symptoms serve to narrow down the diagnosis.
These include a reduced ability to concentrate and pay attention, reduced appetite and sleep disorders, as well as reduced self-esteem, feelings of guilt and worthlessness and a pessimistic basic mood. From this, information can be gained as to whether the depression is an underlying disease or whether it is a depression in the context of another mental illness. From the course of the illness it can be read whether it is an initial diagnosis or whether it has already occurred repeatedly.
In addition, the various forms of depression can be distinguished in order to be able to initiate targeted treatment. Access to numerous tests on the Internet to diagnose depression is currently a quick and easy tool for an initial assessment. As a rule, these are questions that assess the mood of the potential sufferer in a short time using multiple choice.
Similar tests are sometimes also used by experts. The tests identify symptoms that are associated with an existing depression. Tests for children are rare and can only be used after a certain age.
Here, a more comprehensive self-perception of the child is a basic requirement in order to be able to answer the questions meaningfully. The application is therefore not recommended for infants and primary school children. In advanced childhood, the result can be seen as a means of orientation, but never without expert advice.
A self-diagnosis is not recommended. This topic might also be of interest to you: Test for depressionThe diagnosis of depression is not always easy due to the many different symptoms and age-related characteristics of a child. Parents are usually familiar with their child’s behaviour and usually notice very quickly small changes in their child’s behaviour and social interaction.
However, not every change is the same as a pathological phenomenon, but psychological abnormalities should be discussed with an expert in good time if there is any suspicion and recognised. It is much more important to observe your own relationship with the child as well as the interaction with other children and it is a good parameter to recognize changes. The possibly depressive behaviour of the child also influences the behaviour of the parents. If they feel overstrained as a parent lately, reproach themselves regarding the upbringing or feeling a greater distance or rejection of their child, this can be a reaction of themselves to the changed behaviour of their child.
