Childhood depression: an explanation of a behavior disorder of children.

Depression is an important cause of behavioral disturbances in children. Childhood depression is an episodic disorder characterized by 10 criteria, symptoms of dysphoric mood, self-deprecatory ideation, agitation, loss of energy, reduced socialization, altered school performance, altered school attitude, sleep disturbance, appetite disturbance, and somatic compliants persisting for at least one month. Diagnosis and appropriate treatment can successfully alleviate the symptomatology in depressed children.