How to identify depression and anxiety in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

To review the epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, and therapeutic options for the most prevalent anxiety and depressive disorders in childhood and adolescence.

SOURCES OF DATA: A non-systematic review was conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases. Diagnostic criteria were defined according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) and updated textbooks on child and adolescent psychiatry.

SUMMARY OF THE DATA: Diagnosis requires a comprehensive clinical assessment, considering age-specific manifestations and differentiating expected developmental emotional responses from pathological conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Management relies on psychoeducation and psychotherapeutic interventions-particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy-and, in moderate to severe cases, pharmacotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, preferably combined with psychotherapy. Early identification, especially at the pediatric care level, is essential to reduce morbidity, prevent recurrence, and promote healthy development.