Topic of Interest

My topic of interest is depression among children. I would like to study this topic because
I would like to understand it further. Cases of depression among children have been many, and
this has triggered my interest. I would like to understand what causes depression in children,
what makes some children more prone to depression than others as well as how it can be
detected early, considering the fact that children going through depression may not even know
that they are depressed.
Childhood depression is a medical illness that is common and affects the way in which
children think, feels, and act. I already know that depression in children is treatable. T affects the
behavior of children. Most children will indicate that they are depressed through being highly
irritable and angry. This is unlike how most adults behave, as these tend to be socially withdrawn
and sad.
I also know that depression is more prevalent in girls than boys. It is uncommon in pre-
pubertal children. However, by the mid-teens, the rate of depression is high and prevalent. I
would be interested in understanding the relationship between the onset of puberty and
depression since it is evident that children are not at risk of developing depression before hitting
adolescence. However, something changes drastically upon hitting that developmental milestone.
I also know that depression is a comorbid disorder with other psychiatric disorders. It is mostly
associated with anxiety disorders.
Studies among adults show that those who experience anxiety also suffer from depression
and similar disorders (Dunn & Goodyer, 2018). There are high associations between depression
and anxiety throughout the lifespan of human beings. However, there appears to be a high

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variation in the order in which these disorders emerge across development. Studies show that
anxiety precedes depression in children and individuals at the onset of adolescence. However,
later on, anxiety appears to predict depression.
A few years ago, depression was seen as an adult disorder. Children were considered to
be developmentally immature and hence could not experience depressive disorders. The low
mood among adolescents was considered to be a developmental “normal” mood swing.
However, developmental studies have shown that it is actually possible for children and
adolescents t to be depressed. Maughan et al. (2019) state that depression among children is
associated with a wide range of impairments in a child’s educational and social life. Studies have
also been conducted to see the extent to which the onset of depression in children and
adolescents reflects the same underlying condition.
Overall, this topic is important for further research because it is important to understand
the development of depression in children. Such a study is important because it will contribute to
existing research on the social, inherited, and psychological factors that influence long-term and
short-term risks associated with the development of depression in children. Besides, since
depression in the early years of childhood may progress into adulthood if undetected, it is
possible that the quality of life among children will be affected. As such, understanding this topic
is necessary for helping parents and psychologists understand depression in children as well as
signs and risks to look out for. Besides, it will add to the existing literature on childhood
depression.

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References

Dunn, V., & Goodyer, I. M. (2018). Longitudinal investigation into childhood-and adolescence-
onset depression: psychiatric outcome in early adulthood. The British Journal of
Psychiatry, 188(3), 216-222.
Maughan, B., Collishaw, S., & Stringaris, A. (2019). Depression in childhood and
adolescence. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry, 22(1), 35.