Citation

Korczak DJ, Ofner M, LeBlanc J, Wong S, Feldman M, Parkin PC. Acad. Pediatr. 2016; 17(2): 191-197.

Affiliation

Department of Pediatrics; The Hospital for Sick Children; The University of Toronto; Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Academic Pediatric Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.acap.2016.10.011

PMID

27989927

Abstract

BACKGROUND: /Objective. Despite agreement that pre-adult onset of depression is associated with greater severity, and that children can meet diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), few studies have examined the presentation of MDD among young children. This is the first nation-wide study of MDD among pre-adolescent children in Canada.

METHODS: Pediatrician members (2,500) of a Canadian pediatric surveillance network were surveyed monthly over three years to report new cases of MDD among 5 to 12 year olds. Survey response and questionnaire completion rates were 80% and 85%, respectively. Symptom presentation and duration, impairment, medical and psychiatric history and management were reported.

RESULTS: Twenty-nine new cases of MDD were identified by pediatricians. Of these, 23 (79%) experienced symptoms for >6 months before presentation with global functional impairment. Parental depression or anxiety, commonly maternal, was present in 21(72%) cases. 22 (76%) children reported suicidal ideation; 6 (21%) had attempted suicide. 23 (79%) children were treated with medications. 13 (45%) children were treated with two or more medications.

CONCLUSION: Children with MDD frequently had a parental history of mood disorders, experienced longstanding symptom presence, high symptom burden and functional impairment prior to presentation, and treatment with polypharmacy was common.

Copyright © 2016 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en