Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. Those of us who work with the young need to be aware that not all moodiness is a temporary "phase" of development:

• A depressed child may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent, or worry that the parent may die
• Older children may sulk, get into trouble at schools, be negative, be grouchy, or feel misunderstood

Special considerations about depression in older adults include the following:

• Depression may manifest itself with physical symptoms
• Depressive symptoms may be side effects of medication

Source: Stressed Out About Difficult Patients, HCPro, Inc., 2007.