Low Prevalence of Depression in Children from 2004 to 2019

Depression in children aged younger than 13 years is uncommon, according to researchers who conducted a meta-analysis.

Depression is a burdensome disease that is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Further, depression can occur in those aged as young as 3 years, according to the study.

A team of researchers sought to provide estimates for depressive disorders—major depressive disorder, dysthymia, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), and overall depression—in children aged younger than 13 years between 2004 to 2019. Recent changes in environmental and lifestyle factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may increase the prevalence of a child developing a mental health disorder.

Various databases including, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus and the Web of Science were used by the researchers to find their data. A total of 41 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled prevalence estimates were obtained for depressive disorders overall (0.71%), dysthymia (0.30%) and DMDD (1.60%). Additionally, the researchers found that prevalence rates did not differ between men and women, and there was no evidence of association within the birth cohort.

Further, there was a “low risk bias overall,” except for DMDD, which was hindered by a lack of studies involving this disorder, which the authors considered a study limitation. Another limitation was that the current study estimates may not be relevant due to the pandemic’s impact on children’s mental health. Finally, some studies in the meta-analysis may have been missed due to methodological constraints, such as only including studies published in English.

Still, the authors noted that their results suggest that depressive disorders in children younger than 13 years of age may be more uncommon that previously thought.

“The findings of our meta-analyses suggest that depressive disorders in children younger than 13 years are uncommon, perhaps even more uncommon than previous estimates,” the researchers concluded. “Despite the increased risk posed by lifestyle factors in modern times, depressive disorders do not appear to be increasing for children younger than 13 years.”

Reference:

Spoelma MJ, Sicouri GL, Francis DA, Songco AD, Daniel EK, Hudson JL. Estimated prevalence of depressive disorders in children from 2004 to 2019. JAMA Pediatr. 2023;177(10):1017-1027 doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.3221