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Suggest Treatment For Depression In Child
Question: My son is depressed that he dosen't want to go to school. What should I do?
talk to him , try to get a reason, maybe he is getting bullied or unable to cope with studies.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
He's told me that no one is bullying him. His grades did drop. He doesn't want to interact with friends or family.Should I have him home school?
Brief Answer:
Drugs with therapy will work
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your query. Welcome to HCM.
I have read your query and previous also. Your son is of 16 years old and he is refusing to attend school with lack of interest and feeling that he will blow up.
There must be something that is bothering him. Another important point here is about his nature as a child and adolescent. Does he like to talk to people? Does he have any phobias? Does he have friends? Does he is less interactive as a child? whether he was outgoing and playful child? Does he say or do anything unusual recently? Like talking alone, seeing things, animals, people? does he say that somebody is behind him to harm him? Does he fearful?
Important here is to rule any possibility of personality disorder and psychotic disorder. If these symptoms are not present then he might be having depression and he needs drugs and psychotherapy. Drugs are already suggested to you.
I think home school wont help him unless his depression has improved. So first go for consultation to child and adolescent psychiatrist and ask for help. He will guide you further about what can be done and what are the options.
Hope I have answered your query. if you have further query then feel free to ask. Thanks.
Drugs with therapy will work
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your query. Welcome to HCM.
I have read your query and previous also. Your son is of 16 years old and he is refusing to attend school with lack of interest and feeling that he will blow up.
There must be something that is bothering him. Another important point here is about his nature as a child and adolescent. Does he like to talk to people? Does he have any phobias? Does he have friends? Does he is less interactive as a child? whether he was outgoing and playful child? Does he say or do anything unusual recently? Like talking alone, seeing things, animals, people? does he say that somebody is behind him to harm him? Does he fearful?
Important here is to rule any possibility of personality disorder and psychotic disorder. If these symptoms are not present then he might be having depression and he needs drugs and psychotherapy. Drugs are already suggested to you.
I think home school wont help him unless his depression has improved. So first go for consultation to child and adolescent psychiatrist and ask for help. He will guide you further about what can be done and what are the options.
Hope I have answered your query. if you have further query then feel free to ask. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
He doesn't like to interact with anyone . He tries to avoid it . He does have friends that he goes biking with. He was never interactive as a child. He has mentioned that someone was holding him down on his bed in the dark and he couldn't get up.
Brief Answer:
Try to explore more about symptoms, talk to a psychiatrist
Detailed Answer:
hi, thanks for writing again.
If he says that he feels someone holding him down in the dark then there is a possibility that he might be fearful of something or he is experiencing something that he can't express in word or he is fearful to talk about that. Try to talk to him and explore more symptoms like hearing of voices, seeing people or any unusual objects.
Losing the family members, to which one was attaches a lot, is very significant stressor in a child's life. I am having confusion between depression and psychosis.
Visit a child psychiatrist and tell him all the symptoms he is having. You should tell him about the last symptom you have told me. If this is simple depression then it would have responded but it hasn't so we have to explore other possibilities. He was given bupron and therapy but there was no improvement so we have to go for detailed evaluation again.
Keep in touch with a psychiatrist as well as psychologist, both have equal role in treating his condition. Sometimes a child can tell many of his problems by drawing a picture. So that should be kept in mind.
I am in dilemma, so I can't suggest drugs but definite diagnosis and evaluation is required before giving drugs.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Try to explore more about symptoms, talk to a psychiatrist
Detailed Answer:
hi, thanks for writing again.
If he says that he feels someone holding him down in the dark then there is a possibility that he might be fearful of something or he is experiencing something that he can't express in word or he is fearful to talk about that. Try to talk to him and explore more symptoms like hearing of voices, seeing people or any unusual objects.
Losing the family members, to which one was attaches a lot, is very significant stressor in a child's life. I am having confusion between depression and psychosis.
Visit a child psychiatrist and tell him all the symptoms he is having. You should tell him about the last symptom you have told me. If this is simple depression then it would have responded but it hasn't so we have to explore other possibilities. He was given bupron and therapy but there was no improvement so we have to go for detailed evaluation again.
Keep in touch with a psychiatrist as well as psychologist, both have equal role in treating his condition. Sometimes a child can tell many of his problems by drawing a picture. So that should be kept in mind.
I am in dilemma, so I can't suggest drugs but definite diagnosis and evaluation is required before giving drugs.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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