Differentiating Primary Affective Disease, Organic Affective Syndromes, and Situational Depression on a Pediatric Service

Pediatric patients are frequently referred for psychiatric consultation for evaluation and management of depression. The diverse etiological factors of childhood depressions in medical settings require a systematic approach that differentiates primary affective disorders, organic affective syndromes, and situational depressions. To make these distinctions, a practical clinical method is proposed that integrates both biological and psychosocial conceptual frameworks. Case examples illustrate the application of this model.