Many symptoms of depression vary depending on the age of the affected person. In adolescents, social environment represents an important factor while in adults it seems to have a lesser effect.
Children from 1 to 5 years of age:
- Irritability or sadness
- Loss of pleasure, withdrawal, loss of interest in games and toys
- Excessive guilt
- Extreme fatigue, apathy
- Concentration problems
Children from 6 to 12 years of age:
- Irritability or sadness
- Concentration problems
- Decreased school performance
- Somatic symptoms
- Suicidal ideations
- Loss of pleasure, withdrawal, loss of interest in games and toys
- Self-deprecation
Adolescents:
- Irritability, loss of interest
- Behavioural problems
- Refusal to attend school, poor academic performance
- Alcohol and drug use
- Suicidal ideations
- Isolation
- Physical pain
- Psychotic symptoms, often hidden
- Increased or decreased appetite
- Lethargy, decreased energy
- Increased or decreased sleep