Qld: Children get depressed, but not like adults

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2000
Qld: Children get depressed, but not like adults

A child psychiatry expert says children as young as four can be depressed -- but there's
no evidence they get the kind of major depressive illness that adults suffer.

Professor BARRY NURCOMBE says doctors frequently confuse common child depression with
major depressive order, a biological mental disorder in adults which can be treated with
medication.

Prof NURCOMBE, Professor of Child Psychiatry at the University of Queensland, says
the evidence that children get depressed is overwhelming, but he doubts whether they can
suffer a major depressive disorder.

Symptoms of major depressive disorder include general sadness, difficulty in concentrating,
a disturbance to weight levels and appetite, and insomnia.

Prof NURCOMBE says placebos or sugar pills given to depressed children have worked
well in the past, showing that the use of anti-depressant medication isn't usually justified.

He says treating depressed children or adolescents may involve training their families
to communicate better.





Prof NURCOMBE will present his findings on Saturday at the Depression 2000 Australasia
Conference on the Gold Coast.

AAP RTV rad/jhm/smf/rt

KEYWORD: DEPRESSION KIDS (BRISBANE)

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