Bullying and depression: A case report

Bullying is common in schools and is often seen as an inevitable part of sc hool life. Children who ave bullied tend to be move anxious and insecure th an their peers. WE report the case of a 13-year-old boy who was bullied fro m the age of 9 and presented to the local Child and Adolescent Mental Healt h Team (CAMHS) with a psychotic depression, Clinical improvement and re-int egration into school was achieved by use of psychotropic medication and wor k on building self-esteem so that the patient could assert himself, both wi th peers and adults. There is evidence suggesting that children and adolesc ents who ave bullied have increased rates of referral to the CAMHS, particu larly, with symptoms of depression.