Major Depressive Disorder in Children

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? ~3.7% global*
Is it more common among children? Lower than later adolescence overall
Are children at higher risk? Age-dependent
How much higher is the risk? Not established
How often can it be missed? High
Does it show up differently among children? Yes
How might it look different? Irritability, somatic complaints, withdrawal, school/play changes
What commonly occurs alongside it? Anxiety; ADHD; behavioural disorders
What can it be confused with? Anxiety; ADHD; adjustment disorder; DMDD
Common screening tool Age-appropriate depression screener
Separate screening tool for children MFQ / child-specific depression measures
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