Implications of research for the treatment of depressive disorders during childhood

Basic research into the prevalence, natural course, and phenomena of comorb idity of depressive disorders during childhood are reviewed and implication s of this research for treating depressed youths are noted. Results of inve stigations into the biological aspects of depression are integrated into a multifactorial model of depressive disorders during childhood and the effic acy of pharmacological interventions is discussed. Cognitive theory is inte grated with attachment theory to explain a possible avenue to the developme nt of depressive disorders during childhood. Interpersonal therapy has emer ged as a potentially effective intervention for depressed youths. Basic ten ets of this treatment model are compared and contrasted to a cognitive-beha vioral treatment model, and a hybrid treatment referred to as "cognitive th erapy within the interpersonal context" is proposed.