Neurobiology of depression in children and adolescents

• Published in: Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America Vol. 15; no. 4; p. 843
• Main Authors: Zalsman, Gil, Oquendo, Maria A, Greenhill, Larry, Goldberg, Pablo H, Kamali, Masoud, Martin, Andrés, Mann, J John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - metabolism; Anxiety Disorders - genetics; Anxiety Disorders - metabolism; Anxiety Disorders - therapy; Brain - anatomy & histology; Brain - metabolism; Child; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Depressive Disorder - genetics; Depressive Disorder - metabolism; Depressive Disorder - therapy; Estradiol - physiology; Female; Human Growth Hormone - metabolism; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - metabolism; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism; Pituitary-Adrenal System - metabolism; Prevalence; Puberty - physiology; Risk Factors; Testosterone - physiology
• ISSN: 1056-4993
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2006.05.010

This article reviews classical and updated studies of the neurobiology of depressive disorders in children and adolescents. Most studies of childhood and adolescent depression and suicide have followed up the observations and methods used in studies in adults. These studies include neuroendocrine studies, which particularly look at the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the serotonergic system, peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid biologic markers, genetics, gene-environment interactions and sleep studies, and neuroimaging and postmortem studies, although in these areas the number of studies is limited.