Depression rates are rising among Americans, and the disease doesn't stop with adults. Experts say 10 percent of children are depressed.

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DEPRESSION Video Report Symptoms Depression More Common Today? RESOURCES Zoloft Study Paxil Warning

Children with major depressive disorder experience a number of symptoms.

"They can't concentrate, they lose motivation, their school grades decline, they have difficulty sleeping, difficulty eating, and then symptoms can become so severe that they're hopeless and have the desire to kill themselves," said Dr. Karen Dineen Wagner, of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Antidepressant medications are used regularly on children, but most newer medications have not been approved for use on those under 18.

Prozac is the only newer antidepressant that is approved for use in children after studies showed it is safe and it works. Yet for years, doctors have prescribed the array of antidepressant medications, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), for children, and said the results can be amazing.

"One of my patients who is described as being chronically depressed described it as, 'I can suddenly see the sun,'" said Dr. Stuart Goldman of Boston's Children's Hospital.

In a study of nearly 400 children, Wagner and colleagues from seven other institutions -- including the drug maker Pfizer -- found that the antidepressant sertraline, also known as Zoloft, is beneficial for childhood depression. The results are published in this week's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

In the 10-week study, 69 percent of children and teenagers on Zoloft improved, compared to 59 percent who were given a placebo. While it may appear the difference is small, experts said with such a serious disorder that it's a crucial difference.

"Sertraline was significantly better than placebo in improving depression in children. It had effect within three weeks of taking the medication," Wagner said.

Wagner also said that children in studies often react well to placebos because of all the attention and office visits that go with being in a study. She said the findings offer hope for kids with depression.

"Children should be given the opportunity to have medication, just as we would an adult," Wagner said.

Not every medication approved for adults works well in children. Doctors were stunned when studies showed that Paxil, a similar drug, actually caused children with depression to get worse. In fact, the studies found Paxil tripled the risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts in children.

"It's a concern, and so I think the practice of putting Paxil on the side for the moment is a reasonable one as there are other agents that are effective," said Goldman.

Doctors said children who have been taking Paxil and are doing well should not stop using the drug. Instead, they should be closely monitored.

"It's extremely important for children to get treated for this disorder so that there aren't the long-lasting consequences that come from untreated depression," said Wagner.

Statistics show that once a child is depressed, 70 percent of the time that depression will recur. Most doctors insist children who are taking antidepressants also be involved in therapy, another way to monitor progress or potential problems.