Dysthymia

At Children’s Hospital Boston, we’re dedicated to proving the effectiveness of our treatment approaches through rigorous scientific testing. Our research program is one of the largest and most active of any pediatric hospital in the world.

Each day, we are working toward important discoveries to propel new advances in preventing, diagnosing and treating mental and behavioral disorders. This research reinforces our ongoing commitment to enhancing mental health for all children and adolescents. 

Children’s research projects with promise for preventing and treating childhood depression include:

• William Beardslee, MD, academic chair of Psychiatry at Children’s, is the principal investigator of long-term study that he and several colleagues first began in 1979. Researchers closely examined the lives of 275 children from 143 families in which the parents had depression or several risk factors for depression. Using data from this study, Beardslee has identified risk factors for depression in children and implemented a prevention program for families in crisis.
   
• Eugene D’Angelo, PhD, chief of Children’s Division of Psychology, is working with Beardslee on a large, multi-site study of families in which parents have depression and youngsters are manifesting its symptoms. The study uses a group approach in working with families to avoid depression.

In addition, Children’s has developed landmark programs to raise awareness of childhood depression and advocate for community involvement in preventing depression and suicide, including:

• A community prevention program for preventing and treating depression in high school students, building wellness into the school curriculum and training educators and parents to recognize and address mental health issues