ABSTRACT
Depression in childhood or adolescence may be a particularly distressing experience for both the young person and other family members, particularly parents. This is illustrated by the case presented in Box 16.1. Unfortunately the outcome for depression in childhood and adolescence is not favourable. Available evidence suggests that while the majority of youngsters recover from a depressive episode within a year, they do not grow out of their mood disorder (Harrington, 1993; Kovacs, 1997; Reynolds and Johnson, 1994). Major depression is a recurrent condition, and depressed youngsters are more likely than their nondepressed counterparts to develop episodes of depression as adults although they are no more likely to develop other types of psychological problem. Double depression-that is, an ongoing persistent mood disorder (dysthymia) and an episodic major depressive condition; severe depressive symptoms; maternal depression; and the absence of co-morbid conduct problems have all been shown in longitudinal studies to be predictive of worse outcomes. While depressed youngsters with conduct difficulties have been found to be less at risk for recurrent episodes of depression, they are at greater risk for the development of relationship problems in adulthood.
