Proposed Classification of Childhood Depression

Neurotic depressive reactions of mid-childhood may be classified into three distinct categories. Masked depression is the most frequent, appearing in children whose personality and family display severe psychopathology. Children suffering acute depression are fairly well adjusted prior to the traumatic event that precipitates the depression; there may be mild psychopathology in the family. Chronically depressed children have a history of marginal premorbid social adjustment, depression, and repeated separations from important adults; in addition, at least one parent has a history of recurrent depression.