The Best Laid Plans

A father tells me that he tries to give his son, age five and an only child, everything he wants because he wants his son to be happy. However, despite his high standard of living, the child is not happy. He’s petulant, moody, often sullen, and is having problems getting along with other children. Furthermore, he doesn’t seem to appreciate anything his parents do for him. He’s very demanding but not at all thankful for the riches that have been bestowed upon him. Oh, and one more thing: he generally ignores his parents when they speak to him.

The father wants to know if I think his son is depressed. Is he suffering from a chemical imbalance of some sort? A grandparent has suffered from depression for much of her life. So has an aunt.