Treatment
The treatment of depression can be carried out in an outpatient or inpatient setting, i.e. in a clinic. Here it is important to consider how much the child benefits from the respective therapeutic setting. The severity of the illness and whether, for example, there was a risk of suicide in the child should be taken into account in the decision.
The severity of the symptoms and the personal and family environment are also taken into account. Considerations as to whether and to what extent parents, teachers, grandparents and other persons of trust can be involved also influence the form of therapy. The treatment depends crucially on the age, the stage of development of the child and the ability to communicate.
The modern treatment of depression in children is usually carried out within the framework of non-drug therapy using various psychotherapeutic methods. In addition to the child’s therapy, both parents are also involved if possible. In this way an attempt is made to establish a more stable environment for the child in the long term.
Behavioural therapy, as part of psychotherapy, deals, for example, with the learning of mechanisms for stress competence, after insight into the causes of his illness. Furthermore, the methods of light therapy and electroconvulsive therapy are used to a limited extent. The complementary methods of play therapy complete the treatment by taking advantage of the playful nature of the child.
Similar to this method, theatre therapy is also sometimes used. Other novel approaches of behavioral therapy are currently being discussed. In addition to non-drug therapies, antidepressants and mood stabilizers are used in drug therapy.
The use of drugs in children needs to be well thought out and tested, just as it is with adults. In principle, the use of antidepressants is possible, with some exceptions. Drugs from the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) have been described as having few side effects and being effective according to the latest findings.
One representative of this group as an oral antidepressant is fluoxetine, which alone or in combination with cognitive-behavioural therapy showed good results. However, it should be used mainly in severe cases. In mild to moderate depression, an improvement could be shown exclusively with psychotherapy.
A restriction applies to the use of tricyclic antidepressants. These can be used, but have not yet been shown to be clearly effective. (The application has been shown mainly in adolescents, in children there is a lack of evidence from studies to date).
)As a homeopathic therapy for mild to moderate depression, St. John’s wort could be used as an effective herbal antidepressant. Hops, balm, lavender and passion flower could also be considered with their mild sedative effect, as well as valerian. Further effects could be attributed to ginkgo baldoa and ginseng, as well as rose root.
Caffeine-containing substances, which are also easily accessible, could also be classified as homeopathic options with reduced effects. As already mentioned, the therapy is mainly used in mild depression and as an adjunct to non-drug therapies. Severe depression in children with pronounced symptoms should always be clarified by a doctor in order to be able to prevent long-term consequences of the illness for the child in time.
