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There are four general types of depression.^{1 2} Children can get any of these.

Major depression is serious. A bout (or episode) of this type of depression lasts at least two weeks.

Your child may feel sad, lose interest in activities they used to enjoy, criticize themselves and think that others criticize them, too. They may feel unloved, negative or even hopeless about the future. Your child might think that life isn't worth living and may think about suicide.

Children with this type of depression may also be cranky and aggressive. Your child may not be able to make decisions, may have problems concentrating and may not have any energy or drive. And your child may not care about how they look and keeping clean, and may sleep too little or too much.

Major depression is also called clinical depression or unipolar depression.

Dysthymia is a milder depression, but it lasts longer. A child with this illness will likely feel gloomy or low most days for at least a year (the average is four years). Sometimes children have it for so long that they don't recognize their mood as out of the ordinary. So they may not say they feel depressed.

Seven out of 10 children and teenagers with dysthymia have a bout of major depression later on. And if a young person gets major depression and dysthymia at the same time, it's known as double depression.

Reactive depression is the most common type of mood problem in children and teenagers.¹ It usually doesn't last long. It might happen after a bad experience, such as a big fight with friends, a letdown or a loss.

Your child may feel sad or sluggish for as little as two hours or as long as two weeks. But this mood will likely lift on its own, once your child joins in a new or fun activity.

Manic depression is when someone swings between very high moods (mania) and very low moods (depression). It's also called bipolar disorder. It often begins in the teenage years. The first symptom is usually a bout of depression. The first signs of the mania part may not happen for months or years later.

Mania is very different from depression. If you're a teenager with mania, you have lots of energy and confidence. You have a hard time sleeping but don't feel tired. You talk a lot, often speaking very fast or loudly. Your thoughts may be racing. You may do school work quickly but in a mixed-up way. And you may think you have super abilities and that you're very important.

Some of the treatments for manic depression differ from those for other types of depression, and we don't cover them in these pages.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.