Depression in Children

Some research suggests depression may begin in preschool children.
The New York Times (8/29, MM48, Paul) examines a range of opinions on the topic of depression in preschoolers. After an anecdotal opening about the symptoms exhibited by a preschool child from St. Louis, the Times reports, "Preschool depression may be a legitimate ailment, one that could gain traction with parents in the way that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)...have entered the what-to-worry-about lexicon." This is partly because, "according to recent research," the onset of depression "seems to be earlier than expected. Today a number of child psychiatrists and developmental psychologists say depression can surface in children as young as two or three."