Childhood Mood Disorders: Depressive Disorders, Bipolar Disorders, and Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

Childhood mood disorders including depression, dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder are common in children and adolescents. It is imperative for all mental health practitioners to have an understanding of the features, assessments, and treatment of these disorders. This chapter includes up-to-date literature and recent advances. This chapter has been expanded to include the influences of gender, culture, and sexual diversity. Novelties in the expansion of technological interventions for treatment and the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic have also been addressed. Finally, each section includes a clinical vignette to help providers gain clinical insight and assistance with differentiating these complex disorders.