Antecedents of Treatment Resistant Depression in Children Victimized by Peers

• Published in: Child psychiatry and human development 2017-02, Vol.48 (1), p.107-119
• Main Authors: Healy, KL, Sanders, MR
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: At risk; Behavior Modification; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Bullying; Bullying - physiology; Bullying - prevention & control; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child Rearing; Children; Children & youth; Clinical outcomes; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Style; Cognitive therapy; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Crime Victims - psychology; Crime Victims - rehabilitation; Depression; Depression (Psychology); Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant - psychology; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant - therapy; Differentiation; Emotional Response; Family Involvement; Family therapy; Family Therapy - methods; Female; Humans; Individualized Instruction; Intervention; Male; Mental depression; Original Article; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting - psychology; Parenting Styles; Parents; Parents & parenting; Peer Influence; Peer Relationship; Peer relationships; Psychiatry; Psychology; Randomized Controlled Trials; Refractory depression; Resilience (Psychology); Resistance (Psychology); Risk reduction; Social Behavior; Social Support; Treatment Outcome; Victimization
• ISSN: 0009-398X; 1573-3327
• DOI: 10.1007/s10578-016-0658-z

Children victimized by peers are at increased risk of ongoing depression. This study investigates treatment resistant depression in children victimized by peers, following participation in a targeted cognitive behavioral family intervention. The sample comprised 39 children aged 6–12 years with elevated depression compared with a general sample, prior to the intervention. Six months after the intervention, 26 were no longer depressed and 13 were still depressed. This study investigated the differentiation of these two groups on the basis of parenting and child factors. Children with treatment resistant depression were discriminated from other children by lower levels of peer support and facilitative parenting immediately after the intervention. It was concluded that ongoing support from parents and peers is needed to reduce the risk of ongoing depression even if victimization has been reduced. Further research could develop a comprehensive profile of children at risk of depression following peer victimization.