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Depression in adolescents is more common than people believe. Due to developmental changes in the teenage years, it can be more common among adolescents than adults.
Most young people will experience challenges related to their changing bodies, new social relationships, and educational challenges. However, young people at risk for adolescent depression may have more difficulty coping with these changes and become easily isolated.
According to the National Child Health Survey, more than 3.8 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This proportion was 15.7% of the population aged 12 to 17 in the United States. The incidence of depressive episodes was greater among adolescent females (23.0%) than males (8.8%).
Many factors can contribute to the development of depression in adolescents, such as:
If you are concerned that your teen may be suffering from adolescent depression, look for the following warning signs.
If you suspect that your teen is suffering from depression, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Your physician can perform several different tests and examinations to determine whether or not your child is suffering from adolescent depression.
An adolescent may need to meet with a psychiatrist for additional evaluation in some instances. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the standard reference mental health providers use to diagnose depressive disorders.
A doctor may perform a physical exam to determine if any medical conditions could be causing your teen’s depressive symptoms.
This involves meeting with a psychiatrist or psychologist who can provide more information on the severity of the depressive symptoms. A psychiatrist can provide additional evaluation for your teen.
Questions a psychiatrist may ask include:
A mental health professional may perform personality testing to understand how depression impacts your teen. Personality tests can help a mental health professional determine if the teen has a pessimistic outlook, feels guilty or worthless, and lacks focus.
If your teen has been diagnosed with adolescent depression, there are several ways to be treated. The kind of treatment that will be recommended will depend on the severity of your teen’s condition.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants are the most commonly recommended medications for treating adolescent depression.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps people learn to identify and correct negative thought patterns and can also help alleviate depressive symptoms in teens.
It is important to teach your teen stress management techniques that they can use throughout their life. Stress has been shown to contribute to depression. So your teen needs to learn healthy ways to deal with the stress in their life.
A psychoeducation group session is beneficial for teens because it allows them to interact with other adolescents who are experiencing depression.
Depression in adolescents is a serious condition that must be diagnosed and treated by a medical professional. If you notice changes in your teen’s mood, it’s important to see a mental health professional so they can be evaluated for depression.
Adolescence is a trying and challenging time in life that can often be associated with symptoms of depression. To treat depression in adolescents, medication, therapy, and group sessions can be used to help relieve depression symptoms.
At Enhance Health Group, we specialize in providing quality mental health services to help adolescents with depression lead healthy, productive lives. If you or a loved one is suffering from depression, contact us today for a consultation in Orange County.
