An Overview of Teen Depression
Depression is more than the blues or the blahs; it is more than the normal, everyday ups and downs. When that "down" mood, along with other symptoms, lasts for more than a couple of weeks, the condition may be clinical depression (also known as major depression or just depression).
Clinical depression is a serious health problem that affects the total person. In addition to feelings, it can change behavior, physical health and appearance, academic performance, social activity, and the ability to handle everyday decisions and pressures.
Fortunately, there is treatment for teen depression, just as there is for depression in adults. Most teenagers can be helped with psychotherapy,
antidepressants, or both together.
How Common Is Teen Depression?
Population studies show that, at any given point in time, 10 to 15 percent of children and adolescents have some
symptoms of depression. The rate of depression among adolescents is closer to that of depression in adults, and may be as high as one in eight. About one in every five children will experience depression before adulthood.
Once a young person has had an episode of major depression, he or she is at risk of developing depression again within the next five years. This young person is also at risk of other mental health problems.
The teen years offer new experiences and challenges that can be exciting, as well as stressful. The stress of adolescence is one of many factors that can make young people unhappy. Teenagers are also experiencing hormonal changes that can affect their mood.
Some sadness and mood swings are a normal part of life. But when the "blues" last for weeks -- or interfere with school, home, or other activities -- your teen may be suffering from clinical
depression.
Similar to depression in adults, scientists do not know the specific cause or causes of teen depression. They do believe that that the onset of depression is frequently caused by a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. In other words, there is no one cause of depression. They also know a number of factors that increase a teenager's chance of developing depression.
Some risk factors for teen depression include:
Depression Types in Teens
Another type of depression seen in teens is known as reactive depression. This article is focusing on major depression (also known as clinical depression or major depressive disorder).
Symptoms of Teen Depression
Depression in teenagers is more than just having the "blues" now and then; it is a persistent condition in which teenagers may suffer from low self-esteem and have a hard time getting along with others or coping with everyday activities and responsibilities.
But teen depression symptoms can be hard to read. This is because symptoms and
signs of depression can be similar to those that occur as part of growing up. For example, you may mistake a sleep disturbance, which can be a symptom of depression, for a late-night television habit; or your teen may only reveal her sadness in writings that contain morbid themes. Teens may say they are "bored" when, in fact, they are depressed. In addition,
symptoms of depression may vary among cultural groups. Teens in some groups experience sadness or guilt; while others experience more physical symptoms, such as
headaches and nervousness.
Teen Depression Diagnosis
In order to make a diagnosis of depression in teenagers, the healthcare provider will ask a number of questions and perform a complete physical exam. He or she will also evaluate the teenager's:
- Family situation
- Emotional maturity
- Ability to cope with illness and treatment
- Age and state of development
- Self-esteem and prior experience with illness.
Teen depression and adult depression are different illnesses due to the developmental issues that teenagers face. Teenagers experience depression differently, and they may show different symptoms. However, if your teenager is showing four or more symptoms of depression for longer than two weeks, he or she may be suffering from teen depression.
Teenage Depression Treatment
If your healthcare provider diagnoses your teenager with
depression, there are many different treatment options available. Your teenager's treatment plan may include medications (
antidepressants) and/or psychotherapy. You should develop this plan with your healthcare provider and other members of your family, including your teenager. Giving your teenager an active role in planning his treatment can be very important to his improvement and recovery.
The best thing that you can do for a teenager who may have depression is to help her get treated as soon as possible. Never wait to get help in the hope that the mood will pass. Depression is a serious illness, but it is treatable. The most effective form of treatment for teen depression may include both talk therapy and medication. A mental health professional can review treatment options with you to ensure the best care for your teenager.
Prognosis for Teen Depression
Most teenagers who have depression experience a recurrence of their depression. Twenty percent to 40 percent of depressed teenagers relapse within two years, and 70 percent will do so by adulthood.
Suicide is as rare among teenagers who have no other mental disorders as it is among adults. In the general population, about 2,000 adolescents in the United States die by suicide each year. It is thought that about 90 percent of teenagers who commit suicide have some type of mental disorder, with depression being one of the most common.
Suicide continually ranks as the second or third leading cause of death in people ages 15 to 34. Children are less prone to suicide before puberty due to immature reasoning capabilities that make planning and carrying out suicide difficult.
The teenager who attempts suicide often believes that his or her disease is outside the realm of control, and is in the hands of God or some other force. Refusing treatment is not a way of attempting suicide, but comes from his or her belief that fate, luck, or God determines life and death.
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