Vol 11, N°1 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Past issues Contributors How to publish Contributions and comments Home
 
evelopmental psychopathology has identified the defining clinical and contextual features of depression in youngsters. In particular, empirical studies have charac- terized the longitudinal course of depressive illness and common patterns of co-occurring psychiatric conditions. The functional consequences of early-onset illness have also been documented. A growing body of research is identifying the neurobiological and psychological corre- lates. In addition, studies are beginning to identify spe- cific genetic and experiential risk factors. In general, the core patterns of depressive disorders across the lifespan are emerging.This paper details the phenomenology, cor- relates, clinical course, and consequences of pediatric depression, highlighting the similarities and differences in the characteristics of depression among children, ado- lescents, and adults. A few caveats are warranted before C l i n i c a l  r e s e a r c h D Copyright © 2009 LLS SAS.  All rights reserved www.dialogues-cns.org Characteristics, correlates, and outcomes of childhood and adolescent depressive disorders Uma Rao, MD; Li-Ann Chen, MA    Keywords: depression; phenomenology; comorbidity; clinical course;
development; neurobiology; pediatric; risk factor; pathophysiology Author  affiliations:   Department  of  Psychiatry,  the  University  of  Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA Address for correspondence:  Uma Rao, MD, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9101, USA (e-mail:uma.rao@utsouthwestern.edu) Depressive illness beginning early in life can have serious developmental and functional consequences. Therefore, under- standing the disorder during this developmental stage is critical for determining its etiology and course, as well as for developing effective intervention strategies. This paper summarizes current knowledge regarding the etiology, phenom- enology, correlates, natural course, and consequences of unipolar depression in children and adolescents. Using adult depression as a framework, the unique aspects of childhood and adolescence are considered in order to better under- stand depression within a developmental context. The data suggest that the clinical presentation, correlates, and nat- ural course of depression are remarkably similar across the lifespan. There are, however, important developmental dif- ferences. Specifically, the familial and psychological context in which depression develops in youngsters is associated with variability in the frequency and nature of depressive symptoms and comorbid conditions among children and adoles- cents. Maturational differences have also been identified in the neurobiological correlates of depression. These develop- mental differences may be associated with the observed variability in clinical response to treatment and longitudinal course. Characterization of the developmental differences will be helpful in developing more specific and effective inter- ventions for youngsters, thereby allowing them to reach their full potential as adults. © 2009, LLS SAS Dialogues Clin Neurosci.  2009;11:45-62.