Current views of depressive disorders in children - a review.

OBJECTIVE: Depression is one of the most debilitating worldwide mental illnesses, which is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The main risk factors for the development of depression are female gender, early life stress family history of mood disorders, former anxiety disorders, substance abuse and life events. The present review article is focused on the various causative factors like childhood early life stress, cortisol or cortisol awakening response. The review would update readers with regards to the current view of factors responsible for pediatric depression, which in turn helps to plan better therapeutic approaches in the near future.