written by Chuck Clement, Capital Journal Staff

..."During the 1980s, adults generally thought children who exhibited characteristics that today would point toward a mood disorder were then labeled as having behavioral problems.

?Back then, there wasn?t any category for kids with mood disorders, and kids weren?t medicated,? Stringer said.

Since that time, Stringer said adults have accepted the idea that sometimes children can suffer from depression and other mental problems. However, people still have misunderstandings about adolescent depression, believing that if a child has a good home and caring family they shouldn?t have a mood disorder."