European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: Depression is common psychological disorder affects about 121 million people worldwide World Health Organization(WHO) states that depression is the leading cause of disability as measured by years lived with disability (YLD) and fourth leading contributor to global burden disease, an estimated 3-4% of India's 100 crores plus population suffer from major mental disorder, in the southeast Asian region, 11% of DALY's and 27% of YLD's are attributed to neuropsychiatric disease. Depression imposes itself not only on adults but it takes its toll on children and adolescents as well. Normally, parents want their children to be happy. Yet despite doing their best to provide and protect them, children may still encounter disappointments, frustrations, or real heartbreak. At times, children may feel sad and needy. However, some children and adolescents seem to be constantly experiencing sorrow, hopelessness, and helplessness. Depression is an illness where the feeling sadness persists and intervene with the child or adolescents functional ability.
Aim & Objective: 1.To study the phenomenology of childhood and adolescent depression. 2.To study the family factors in patients of childhood and adolescent depression. 3.To study the quality of life of patients with childhood and adolescent depression. 4.To study the functional status of patients with childhood and adolescent depression
Methods: Study design: A Cross sectional Observational Study. Study setting: in the Department of Psychiatry of a tertiary care hospital. Study duration: October 2015 to June 2016
Study population: The study population included all children or adolescent diagnosed with depression admitted at a tertiary care center. Sample size: 30
Results: most of the study population belongs to the age group of 13 to 15 years (50%) followed by 10 to 12 years (33.35). there was higher number of female (60%) as compared to male amongst study population. there was higher number of nuclear family (80%) as compared to joint family amongst study population. most of the study population had family income of 25000 to 35000 rupees (43.3%) followed by 15000 to 25000 (33.3). Family psychiatry history was present in 16.7% of study population. mean CDI, PedsQL, CGAS and FAD score amongst study population was 27.57 ± 3.730, 52.63±9.701, 67.93±6.068 and 131.67 ±6.266. mean CDI, PedsQL, CGAS and FAD score was higher in female population as compared to male though statistically not significant.
Conclusions: Understanding and recognizing the early signs of depression, as well as the treatment and prevention, helps reduce the global burden that persists from depression among young groups. Families and guardians are in a unique position to provide interventions to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce the likelihood of depression on their children.