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Source: National Library of Medicine

What is depression in teens?

Teen depression is a serious medical illness. It's more than just a feeling of being sad or "blue" for a few days. It is an intense feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and anger or frustration that lasts much longer. These feelings make it hard for you to function normally and do your usual activities. You may also have trouble focusing and have no motivation or energy. Depression can make you feel like it is hard to enjoy life or even get through the day.

What causes depression in teens?

Many factors may play a role in depression, including

Genetics. Depression can run in families.
Brain biology and chemistry.
Hormones. Hormone changes can contribute to depression.
Stressful childhood events such as trauma, the death of a loved one, bullying, and abuse.

Which teens are at risk of depression?

Depression can happen at any age, but often begins in the teens or early adulthood. Certain teens are at higher risk of depression, such as those who

Have other mental health conditions, such as anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse
Have other diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease
Have family members with mental illness
Have a dysfunctional family/family conflict
Have problems with friends or other kids at school
Have learning problems or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Have had trauma in childhood
Have low self-esteem, a pessimistic outlook, or poor coping skills
Are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, especially when their families are not supportive

What are the symptoms of depression in teens?

If you have depression, you have one or more of these symptoms most of the time:

Sadness
Feeling of emptiness
Hopelessness
Being angry, irritable, or frustrated, even at minor things

You also may also have other symptoms, such as

No longer caring about things you used to enjoy
Changes in weight - losing weight when you are not dieting or gaining weight from eating too much
Changes in sleep - having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or sleeping much more than usual
Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
Feeling very tired or not having energy
Feeling worthless or very guilty
Having trouble concentrating, remembering information, or making decisions
Thinking about dying or suicide

How is depression in teens diagnosed?

If you think you might be depressed, tell someone that you trust, such as your

Parents or guardian
Teacher or counselor
Doctor

The next step is to see your doctor for a checkup. Your doctor can first make sure that you do not have another health problem that is causing your depression. To do this, you may have a physical exam and lab tests.

If you don't have another health problem, you will get a psychological evaluation. Your doctor may do it, or you may be referred to a mental health professional to get one. You may be asked about things such as

Your thoughts and feelings
How you are doing at school
Any changes in your eating, sleeping, or energy level
Whether you are suicidal
Whether you use alcohol or drugs

How is depression in teens treated?

Effective treatments for depression in teens include talk therapy, or a combination of talk therapy and medicines:

Talk therapy

Talk therapy, also called psychotherapy or counseling, can help you understand and manage your moods and feelings. It involves going to see a therapist, such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker, or counselor. You can talk out your emotions to someone who understands and supports you. You can also learn how to stop thinking negatively and start to look at the positives in life. This will help you build confidence and feel better about yourself.

There are many different types of talk therapy. Certain types have been shown to help teens deal with depression, including

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you to identify and change negative and unhelpful thoughts. It also helps you build coping skills and change behavioral patterns.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT), which focuses on improving your relationships. It helps you understand and work through troubled relationships that may contribute to your depression. IPT may help you change behaviors that are causing problems. You also explore major issues that may add to your depression, such as grief or life changes.

Medicines

In some cases, your doctor will suggest medicines along with talk therapy. There are a few antidepressants that have been widely studied and proven to help teens. If you are taking medicine for depression, it is important to see your doctor regularly.

It is also important to know that it will take some time for you to get relief from antidepressants:

It can take 3 to 4 weeks until an antidepressant takes effect
You may have to try more than one antidepressant to find one that works for you
It can also take some time to find the right dose of an antidepressant

In some cases, teenagers may have an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants. This risk is higher in the first few weeks after starting the medicine and when the dose is changed. Make sure to tell your parents or guardian if you start feeling worse or have thoughts of hurting yourself.

You should not stop taking the antidepressants on your own. You need to work with your doctor to slowly and safely decrease the dose before you stop.

Programs for severe depression

Some teens who have severe depression or are at risk of hurting themselves may need more intensive treatment. They may go into a psychiatric hospital or do a day program. Both offer counseling, group discussions, and activities with mental health professionals and other patients. Day programs may be full-day or half-day, and they often last for several weeks.