[Epidemiologic approach to the evolution by age and sex of childhood and adolescent depression]

Abstract

Review of the literature on the epidemiology of depression in children and young adolescents taking into account the age and sex evolution of 1/its frequency, 2) its symptoms, 3) the risk factors and 4) prognostic factors, shows the following: age evolution of depressive conditions (self-perceived depression and clinical disturbances) is different according to sex and type of disturbances. In early adolescence there is an increase in frequency of depressive feelings, specially in girls. Clinical depression also differs according to sex: boys seem to present more severe depressions and at a younger age, more frequently associated with behavior problems and have a worse prognosis. Symptomatic expression of depressive disturbances: 1) differ with age (somatic complaints and relational isolation in younger children, loss of self-esteem in adolescents) and 2) are different according to sex in adolescents (somatic preoccupations in girls, social problems in boys).