ABSTRACT

Until relatively recently, depression in children and adolescents was considered so unlikely that there were no established diagnostic criteria in place in any formal classification system. Historically, children were thought to be unable to experience true depression, a disorder thought to be related to psychodynamics only associated with adult psychosocial development. Consequently, long-term studies about children’s depression and response to clinical interventions are virtually nonexistent. Treatments for children largely parallel established treatments for adults, with some modifications to make them more age appropriate.