Childhood Depression Can Impair Learning

Abstract

Depression is a worldwide public health problem that affects the quality of life in general at humans, especially children. This study aims to discuss the aspects in which this disorder compromises neuropsychomotor development and child learning. A narrative bibliographic review of the last 10 years (2010-2020) was carried out in the Medline, Pubmed, SciELO, Lilacs, Psycinfo and Periodical CAPES databases, using the keywords depression, depressive disorder, depressive episode, childhood, cycle vital, learning, learning and the Boolean AND. From the study, it is concluded that childhood depression reduces the capacity for logical reasoning, concentration and memory, delaying or interrupting the development of cognitive, psychomotor and learning skills. For this reason, it is essential that a correct diagnosis is made (e.g., using diagnostic manuals, such as Child Depression Inventory, International Classification of Diseases and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), but also an effective treatment (both psychological and pharmacological).