WSU Scientists Reveal New Way To Diagnose Childhood Depression
DETROIT (WWJ) - A landmark study by scientists at Wayne State University published in the latest issue of Archives of General Psychiatry has revealed a new way to diagnose and distinguish children with depression.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Marie Osborne reports that Dr. David Rosenberg, Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Wayne State University and Children's Hospital says he and his colleagues took a very close look at a portion of the brain.
"We used a new technique measuring the thickness or size structure of the cortex, the children's brain, and we found we were able to distinguish children with depression (from those who were healthy and those with obsessive-compulsive disorders)," says Rosenberg.
Dr. Rosenberg says this is revolutionary and could lead to better and more effective treatments for childhood depression.
"With accurate diagnosis and assessment, earlier rather than later, the prognosis and opportunity for a depressed child to get better is very good," says Rosenberg.
This research will likely lead to new treatments for one-third of the kids that don't respond well to treatment.
Rosenberg recommends seeking treatment from a competent psychiatrist, if you think your child is suffering from depression.
You can read the full article published in the Archives of General Psychiatry at this link.
