Developmental Differences in Depression

Abstract

In the last decade, a great deal has been learned about childhood depression.* Specific findings from the study of depression in adults in diverse domains have served as the basis for hypotheses in evaluating depression among children. By and large, many of the findings obtained with adults have been replicated with children and adolescents. Despite many developmental continuities in the nature of depression, there remains keen interest in the evaluation and elaboration of developmental differences and points of transition from one stage to the next. From infancy through adolescence, there are, of course, remarkable and pervasive changes in biological, psychological, and social spheres. It is inevitable that the manifestations of depression will vary over the course of development.