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12:01

Admin - Hello and welcome to MomHouston's live chat with Baylor College of Medicine expert Dr. Richard Pesikoff.

12:01

Admin - Dr. Pesikoff is a clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at BCM.

Welcome Dr. Pesikoff!

12:02

Dr. Pesikoff -

Good afternoon.

12:03

Admin - Thanks for joining us Dr. P. There was a story out recently that children as young as 3 are capable of becoming depressed. Can you give some advice to parents if they have a young child they believe is struggling with depression?

12:06

Dr. Pesikoff - It is important to first be sure that we are using the word depression the same way. The signs of depression in childhood are many and often different from those that we see in adults. Children show depression with symptoms sometimes of loss of appetite, depressed mood, loss of functions that they have already achieved such as bowel and bladder control, the ability to sleep by themselves, and the ability feed themselves. Children can also demonstrate signs of depression with crying, loss of motivation/a desire to do things, irritability, unprovoked anger and school withdrawal. While not unheard of, it is extremely rare for very young children to hurt themselves; something we see in older children and adults. If a parent suspects their child has problems in this area, it would be advisable to consult their family doctor or pediatrician to get an expert opinion.

12:07

[Comment From Linda Ball]
My daughter has experienced the suicide of her best friends of 19 years. She knew her friend was depressed but regrets that she did not see this coming. How can she resolve the "only if" thoughts she has.

12:09

Dr. Pesikoff - It is always tragic when a young person ends their life. Unfortunately, none of us have the ability to read other people's thoughts and to know what someone else is planning. Blaming one's self for someone else's behavior isn't fair to yourself. One would have to be a mind reader in order to actually know that another person was intent on killing him or herself unless that person actually told you so. Almost all the time, individuals who are determined to end their lives do so successfully because they do not share their intentions with other people. In those situations, there is no way to read their minds and know that they are planning on killing themselves. If your daughter continues to struggle with her self doubts, she might consider talking with a counselor to further investigate her feelings.

12:09

[Comment From Jeff]
What is your advice concerning ECT for treatment of bipolar disorder? Is it worth It?

12:11

Dr. Pesikoff - Electric shock treatment is an old and proven treatment for some forms of mental disorders. It was much more popular before we had access to many of the medications available today. However, in certain situations, such as major depression, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia where the physician has determined that the individual could benefit from ECT treatments, it is perfectly appropriate to recommend ECT to deal with some of the symptoms of these conditions. The decision to use ECT should be left to a psychiatrist experienced in this area.

12:11

[Comment From Robin]
Do you believe being bipolar is hereditary?

12:12

Admin - Dr. P will be answering questions as quickly as he can. If you have asked a question please be patient and he will answer it. Thank you.

12:12

Dr. Pesikoff - The evidence does in fact point to genetic predispositions for many forms of mental illness, one of which appears to be bipolar disorder. The research continues, especially at Baylor College of Medicine, to understand further what these genetic roots are.

12:13

[Comment From Rea]
Dr. P. do you believe in the health benefits of animal assisted therapy? Why do you think more practitioners do not utilize this treatment modality?

12:14

Admin - National Institue of Mental Health

12:15

Dr. Pesikoff - The evidence is very convincing that having a pet whether ill or not ill is often very beneficial to the mental health of an individual. The demands of different kinds of pets vary. The easiest animal to have is a fish, followed by a bird then a cat and then a dog. Depending upon the individual's personality and the form or illness he or she is suffering with, one would choose a pet appropriate for that person. Animals can be very helpful in raising individual's moods, increasing their motivation, helping them get exercise, helping them eat better and in general improving their moods. Like other situations where individuals are not educated about the facts some mental health individuals likewise are not familiar with the benefits of animal therapy and thus fail to recommend the appropriate use of pets with their patients.

12:15

[Comment From Joe]
Is depression hereditary?

12:17

Dr. Pesikoff - There are different kinds of depression but it does appear that their is a genetic predisposition; something that runs in families that develops into, at times, clinical depression. However, it often requires more than just the genetic predisposition. Environmental factors/stressors, of which there are many, often contribute to the onset of depression. Some of the more commons stressors include physical illness, divorce, job losses, moving, loss of family member and friend and so on.

12:17

[Comment From Guest]
Can kids with high functioning autism show signs of depression?

12:19

Dr. Pesikoff - Yes. High functioning autistic children are often diagnosed with Asperger's disorder. These children lack some of the more severe symptoms of Autism, such as the inability to communicate with words but do present frequently with significant social interaction problems. As a result of their difficulties in interpersonal relationships they not infrequenlty feel rejected by their peers and can develop feelings of depression.

12:19

[Comment From WorriedAboutDaughter]
My daughter is 28 months and my wife and I often have pretty loud fights. Although during counseling we have been told and promised to abide by not doing this in front of her, we sometimes backslide. I am worried about the effect on my daughter, can you elaborate on any long term effects and things to watch out for in her behavior that may indicate a problem? We are working hard on our marriage and I don't want my daughter to be hurt because her parents are going through communication learning pains.

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