Mood Disorder - Children

Mood disorder, especially depression, presents with different sign and symptoms in children and adolescent; in that, they are rather irritable and angry than sad and this presentation should be differentiated from a “spoiled child”. Depressed children are not enjoying or participating in activities that were enjoyed previously, they isolate themselves, have sleeping or eating problem, have low self-esteem or feeling of worthlessness, exhibit behavioral problems, have suicidal thought or attempt suicide, and in some incident they self-medicate themselves with street drug. In many cases, untreated depression is the underlying cause of other mental health difficulties such as eating disorder, anger and behavioral problem, and academic difficulties.