Could your teen be depressed? Although we are learning more about depression, it’s hard to know if a teen is depressed. This is especially true when irritability and moodiness often co-exist with most normal teens.
What is teen depression?
Depression is a medical condition that causes psychological and physical symptoms. Depression can happen at any age, including the teen years.
About 1 in 5 teens suffers with depression. But 70% of depressed teens do not get the right treatment. When teen depression goes untreated, the outcome may be serious, and result in:
- Poor performance at school
- Troubled relationships
- Increased rates of substance abuse
- Risky sexual behavior
- Increased rates of physical illness
- Increased rates of suicide attempts and completions
What are the symptoms of teen depression?
The most common symptom of depression is sadness for no apparent reason most of time. Yet teens with depression may have signs of extreme irritability, anger, or anxiety instead.
Depressed teens often have physical complaints, such as stomachaches or headaches. These symptoms may cause absences from school or poor school performance.
Teens with depression may have changes in sleep habits with unexplained crying. They may become extremely sensitive to rejection or failure. Other symptoms may include:
- Feeling helpless
- Anger
- Withdrawal from activities
- Avoidance of peers
- Apathy
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in eating habits
- Slow or rapid movement
- Weight gain or loss
- Substance abuse
- Difficulty with authority
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
How is teen depression diagnosed?
A depression diagnosis is based on the symptoms and the duration of symptoms. Also, the doctor will consider how the symptoms impact the teen’s behavior and life.
How is teen depression treated?
Teen depression is a treatable medical problem. Combination treatment is most effective and may include:
- Depression medications to relieve symptoms; and
- Talk therapy or counseling to help teens learn new coping skills.
Medications usually include antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. SSRIs that have been studied for teen depression include:
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
- sertraline (Zoloft)
- paroxetine (Paxil)
- citalopram (Celexa)
- escitalopram (Lexapro)
- fluvoxamine (Luvox)
Prozac is the only SSRI approved by the FDA for use in children ages 8 and older with major depression. Still, doctors often prescribe other SSRIs and atypical antidepressants on an off-label basis.
Talk therapy may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). With CBT, professionals help teens learn how to change destructive patterns of thinking.
One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that teaching positive thinking may prevent depression in at-risk teens. Researchers found that teens can learn skills to keep negative thoughts from escalating into depression.
If a teen has severe depression, the doctor may admit the teen to a hospital for observation and treatment.
Can teen depression lead to suicide?
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teens and young adults. In the U.S., there are about 5,000 suicides each year between the ages of 10-24.
When depression goes untreated, teens may think suicide is the only answer. Feelings of hopelessness may lead to impulsive but deadly acts.
Are there warning signs of teen suicide?
Four out of 5 teens who attempt suicide give clear-cut signs. Here are warning signs every parent must know:
- Obsessing about death
- Open suicide threats
- Writing poems or drawing about death
- A change in appearance or mood
- Defiant behavior
- Acting violently
- Feelings of guilt
- A change in sleep or eating habits
- Giving away belongings
- Staying away from people and activities.
With proper treatment and support, teens who consider suicide can get well and return to a healthy life.
Are there tips for parents of teens with depression?
Parenting a teen with depression is not easy. These tips may help:
- Seek proper treatment. If your teen has emotions that seem abnormal, talk to your doctor. When teen depression goes undiagnosed and untreated, the teen may try to ease the feelings with drugs, alcohol, or suicide.
- Get involved in family therapy. Family therapy can help the teen and family to understand depression. Therapy can help members learn coping skills to handle any moods or behaviors linked to depression.
- Listen to your teen. Avoid offering advice. Instead, listen and try to uncover problems that may be upsetting your teen.
- Make sure your teen has consistent bedtimes. A study from Columbia University Medical Center showed teens with earlier bedtimes get more sleep and have fewer cases of depression and thoughts of suicide. Teens should get around nine hours of sleep every night, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
Be aware of the FDA warning that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in teens with depression. Children and teens who are started on antidepressant should be monitored for these behaviors. Talk with your health care provider about any concerns you may have.
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