Teen Depression

Roughly one in every five children will go through depression before adulthood. Children who have experienced depression are at risk of developing depression again within the next five years. Teen depression symptoms can be difficult to read, partly because they can be similar to things that occur as a normal part of growing up. Some risk factors for teen depression include gender, environmental factors, and stressful life events. Treating teen depression may involve antidepressant medications and/or psychotherapy.

Depression in Teens

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.

(Teen Depression Continued: Page 2)

Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD

Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD