Depression
Depression is considered a mood disorder and the DSM uses three groups of criteria to diagnose mental illness related to mood:
1. Mood episodes
2. Mood disorders
3. Specifiers describing recent mood episodes and recurrent course. For example:
-Anxious distress
-Atypical features – feeling of being sluggish.
Mood Episodes – Related to Depression
A mood episode refers to any period of time when a client feels abnormally happy and or sad.
Examples of mood episodes include:
- Major Depressive Episode: For at least two weeks, the client feel depressions (or cannot enjoy life) and has problems with eating, sleeping, guilt feelings, low ehngnery, trouble concentrating, and thoughts about death
Mood Disorder- Related to Depression
A mood disorder is a pattern of mental health concerns due to abnormal mood.
- Major Depressive Disorder: Clients that experience and have had one or more major depressive episodes. Major depressive disorder can be either recurrent or a single episode
- Persistent Depressive Disorder: There are general no high phases here. Sadness lasts much longer than typical major depressive disorder.
- This type of depression is not usually severe enough to be called an episode of major depression.
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder: A child’s mood is persistently negative between frequent, severe explosions of temper.
How Can You Support a Client with Depression?
- Your client may benefit from receiving therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) (a type of CBT), for their depression. Registered psychologists who specialize in CBT may be found at: https://www.psychologistsassociation.ab.ca/site/doctor_search_form
- Your client’s parents may wish to consider visiting their family doctor or pediatrician to discuss medical management options for depression.
- Increase Self-Esteem
- Challenge negative thinking
- Treat anxiety or anxious thoughts
- Encourage use of positive coping strategies
- Seek out community resources
- Support your clients general health
Resources for children with bipolar disorder
Additional Information
- For more information on and targeted interventions for depression see these handouts: