... or hopeless about the future. They may feel sad or irritable. Problems at school arise from indecision and difficulties with concentration. Depressed children tend to lack energy and have problems sleeping. They may have stomach aches or headaches. Morbid thoughts may progress to suicidal thinking and even suicide attempts. For various reasons, some adults find it hard to accept that children may experience unpleasant psychological states such as depression." Depression in children usually arises from a combination of genetic vulnerability, suboptimal early developmental experiences, and exposure to stresses. Compared with the literature on depression in adults, evidence from randomised controlled trials for the efficacy of treatments for depression in young people is scarce. Antidepressants introduced since 1990, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine, have been used increasingly as first line treatment for depression in children. The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in children under 18 years ...

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