Childhood Depression

Martha C. Tompson, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts. She has been a faculty member in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Boston University for over 25 years and is the Director of Clinical Training for the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Tompson has spent her career developing and evaluating family-based treatment for mental health problems in children and adults. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and has two grown children.

1 History
1.1 Diagnostic Criteria and Description
1.1.1 Major Depressive Disorder
1.1.2 Persistent Depressive Disorder
1.1.3 Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
1.1.4 Adjustment Disorders
1.2 Epidemiology
1.3 Course and Prognosis
1.4 Differential Diagnosis
1.5 Comorbidities
1.6 Issues Gaining Increased Attention
2 Theories and Contributing Factors
2.1. Biological Contributors
2.1.1 Neural Factors
2.1.2 Endocrine-Related and HPA Axis
2.1.3 Genetic Factors and Parental Depression
2.2 Child and Developmental Risk Factors
2.2.1 Developmental Risk
2.2.2 Temperament/Personality
2.2.3 Cognitive Contributors
2.2.4 Earlier Mental Health Problems
2.3 Environmental and Psychosocial Risk Factors
2.3.1 Stress Context
2.3.2 Family Functioning
2.3.3 Peer Stress
2.4 Models/Theories
2.4.1 Vulnerability-Stress Models
2.4.2 Cognitive-Behavioral Models
2.4.3 Interpersonal and Stress-Generation Models
2.5 An Integrative Model to Guide Treatment
3 Evaluation
3.1 Reporters
3.2 Special Considerations in Evaluation
3.3 Diagnostic Tools
3.3.1 Depression Screening
3.3.2 Diagnostic Interviews
3.3.3 Depression Symptom Rating Scales
3.3.4 Observational and Technological
Approaches
3.3.5 Tools for Evaluating Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
4 Treatment: A Family-Based Approach
4.1 Evidence Base for Child and Adolescent
Depression Treatment
4.1.1 Psychosocial Interventions
4.1.2 Medication Interventions
4.2 Family-Focused Treatment for Childhood Depression (FFT-CD)
4.2.1 Structure of the Therapy
4.2.2 Important Treatment Strategies
4.2.3 Setting the Stage with Individual Sessions
4.2.4 Family Sessions
4.3 Challenges in Implementing FFT-CD
4.4 Efficacy of FFT-CD
5 Case Vignettes
6 Further Reading
7 References
8 Appendix: Tools and Resources