Project: Final Paper: Questions and Controversies in Clinical Psychopharmacology

Running head: CONTROVERSIES ON CHILDHOOD DEPRESSION AND MEDICATION 1

CONTROVERSIES ON CHILDHOOD DEPRESSION AND MEDICATION 2

Controversies on childhood depression and medication

SummerLove Holcomb

Instructor: Beverly Dawson

SOCW 6443

09/19/2020

The purpose of my paper is to examine the controversies related to childhood depression and medication. The reason for researching controversies related to childhood depression and medication is due to the increase in the occurrence of children diagnosed with depression at a tender age. This paper is surrounded by the ongoing controversies on the diagnosis and treatment of childhood depression which relates to my profession. I intend to learn about the validity of the controversies concerns associated with childhood depression and medications by carrying out proper research to obtain a better understanding (Ebmeier, Donaghey & Steele, 2020). These controversies include that children should not be diagnosed with depression at a young age since the symptoms vary. Childhood depression may be hard to differentiate from mood swings since children's mood shifts very quickly. The symptoms of childhood depression such as vocal outbursts and changes in appetite are very similar to children's tantrums. There are different controversies in childhood depression since the screening process may produce inaccurate results due to mood swings found in adolescents. The use of antidepressants by children may potentially increase the risk of suicide, trigger anxiety, agitation, hostility, and impulsive behavior. The use of depression medications may cause more bad than good to the children since their body may be unable to absorb these medications (Ebmeier, Donaghey & Steele, 2020). The problem associated with depression medication and the difficulty of diagnosing childhood depression is the main controversies that face childhood depression and medications. The use of depression medications such as antidepressants by children under the age of 18 may lead to the development of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. The controversies in childhood depression are due to the possibility of the wrong diagnosis by the doctors due to the similarity of symptoms with other diseases. This is not to say that children should not be diagnosed with depression and given medications since only a few cases get a false positive,(Ebmeier, Donaghey & Steele, 2020).

References

Ebmeier, K., Donaghey, C., & Steele, J. (2020). Recent developments and current controversies in depression. Retrieved 19 September 2020, from https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(06)67964-6.