Depressão na infância e adolescência: peculiaridades no diagnóstico, suas causas e a fé no processo de cura

Abstract

Depression, or major depressive disorder (MDD), is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be one of the most common disorders among mental illnesses. The present study aims to investigate the conflicts inherent in the diagnosis of depression in children and adolescents, its relationship with the subjective sociocultural aspects of the conception of this psychopathology and the production of its symptoms, also problematizing the use of faith in the process of curing the depressive phenomenon. Depression is understood, in contemporary times, as a physical and psychological state associated with apathy, dejection, deep and permanent sadness, constantly accompanied by an existential void. That is, an absence of meaning in “being” in the world, we understand it here as boredom. Its conclusions raise the hypothesis of trivialization of the diagnosis through criteria and indicators that do not consider the continuous process of child development, nor the processes of brain neuroplasticity at this stage of life. The production of its symptoms may be the result of the intertwining of biopsychosocial-spiritual factors, where the collective relationships that constitute the psychic subject take prominence and present themselves as producers of meaning in life in everyday experiences. Faith, specifically here, Christian, can point to the quality of life of the depressed subject, as well as their socio-family context. Therefore, in conjunction with other care, it helps to better manage symptoms, thus pointing to curative purposes.