Depression in preschool children with behavioral disorders

Abstract

Depressive and behavioral disorders in preschool children represent a frequently underdiagnosed comorbidity with substantial implications for emotional development and social adaptation. The atypical clinical presentation and symptom overlap hinder early diagnosis and delay adequate therapeutic intervention. The study investigates the prevalence of depressive episodes in preschoolers with behavioral disorders, correlating findings with specific psychosocial and clinical risk determinants. The study included 50 children aged 5–8 years, hospitalized in the pediatric psychiatry department of SCP Codru. Diagnoses of depression and behavioral disorders were established per DSM-5/ICD-10 criteria. Assessment tools included CDRSR/QUIDS. A mixed-methods approach involved clinical evaluation, statistical analysis, and caregiver interviews. Within the studied cohort, 62% of children exhibited clinically significant depressive symptoms, while 84% presented oppositional or aggressive behaviors, reflecting a high prevalence of these disorders. Comorbidity between depression and behavioral disturbances was notably higher in boys, affecting 76% of cases, as well as in children from socioeconomically vulnerable backgrounds, 28% demonstrated moderate to severe risk of social withdrawal and self-deprecating ideation, underscoring the critical need for timely, targeted psychosocial and clinical interventions to enhance prognosis and developmental outcomes in this vulnerable population. Depression linked to behavioral disorders in early childhood is a significant clinical issue requiring multidisciplinary approaches. Screening and early psychotherapeutic interventions (CBT, family therapy, psychoanalysis) are essential to prevent chronic symptoms and support social integration.