Childhood Depression or Dysthymic Disorder

Dysthymic disorder is a more chronic, less severe form of depression.  The child needs to have at least 2 symptoms for most of the day, nearly everyday for at least a year.  A child’s symptoms can be such a part of who the child is that people may not notice much difference in a child’s functioning.  A parent, teacher or even the child may say, “She’s always been this way” or “That’s just who she is”.  A big red flag is that the child may have a very hard time feeling pleasure or may not remember what it’s like to feel happy.  

 

The symptoms of dysthymic disorder are mostly the same as depression.  In a child with dysthymic disorder their may be a change in weight or appetite and a change in sleeping habits.  The child may seem sad and hopeless but in some children their mood may be more irritable or cranky.  They may feel very angry and not know why.  They may be tired all the time, not wanting to do anything.  They may not be interested in anyone or anything, not wanting to play or spend time with anyone.  They may have a hard time concentrating. 

 

Children with dysthymic disorder may have a hard time remembering things.  They can have a hard time making decisions.  They tend to blame themselves and may think others blame them too.  They may brood or ruminate about past mistakes and bad experiences.  They may think their life will always be bad and that nothing good will ever happen to them. 

 

 

Children with dysthymic disorder may think they don’t deserve to have good things happen to them because they may think there is nothing good about them or that they’ll never be able to do anything.  They can have low self-esteem and no self-confidence.  They may have very poor social skills and may be socially withdrawn.  In my first few posts in Sept. and Oct. I wrote about the symptoms of depression in more detail.

 

When I worked with kids in community mental health some of them were diagnosed with dysthymic disorder.  Since I worked in community mental health a lot of the children I worked with lived below the poverty line.  Not all children who live below the poverty line have dysthymic disorder but poverty may be a contributing factor for some children. 

 

Poor children may not have as much to eat and what they do have may be less nutritious.  Poor children may experience more of the bad in life and that can cloud their view of the world, other people and themselves.  Poor children see the things that other kids have and hear about the places other kids go and may not understand why they don’t have the same things.  Being poor can be painful and frustrating for a child but not only poor children suffer from dysthymic disorder. 

 

A child living a very middle class or even upper class life can suffer from dysthymic disorder because of their biology, environment, trauma or relationship problems with their primary caregiver.  Like with depression and anxiety some children may be predisposed to having dysthymic disorder. 

 

If you see a child you think may be depressed but he doesn’t’ meet a lot of the criteria for depression, he may have dysthymic disorder.  Anytime you think a child has any emotional issues it is a good idea to get the child assessed.  Just remember that dysthymic disorder is a more chronic, less sever form of depression.  The child may have fewer symptoms but they may last a lot longer.  I hope my posts have helped you in some way.