Depression Therapy for Teenagers

Depression in teenagers is different from depression in adults and from normal teenage angst. If your teen is exhibiting increased irritability, angry outbursts, withdrawal from relationships and/or thoughts of suicide, it is time to seek professional medical or mental health services. As the illness is different in teenagers, the treatments are also different.

Treating Teenage Depression

• When speaking with your family doctor, be prepared to report the symptoms your teen is exhibiting, including changes in behavior, and how long they have been occurring. If the doctor rules out any physical conditions such as illness or drug abuse that account for your teen's symptoms, it is time to consider other treatments for depression. Anti-depressant medication is often chosen, but may not always be the best option. Because of the increased risk of suicide with many anti-depressants, they may not be approved for teenagers, who are already at a higher risk. Even if an anti-depressant such as Prozac is prescribed for your teen, it should be used in conjunction with talk therapy. Additionally, a psychiatrist should closely monitor the use of this medication and adjust the dosage as needed. Therapy can be one-on-one between your teen and a psychologist, family therapy with a psychologist, or group therapy, where your teen is one of many with similar experiences working together with a psychologist. Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or CBT, is commonly used with success to treat depression in adolescents. This type of therapy relies on a good relationship between the psychologist and the patient, where they work together to set and achieve life-goals. CBT is founded on the principle that feelings and behaviors are the result of internal thoughts, not environmental factors or life events. CBT tends to be completed in a shorter period of time than other therapeutic approaches. Expect this treatment to have a duration in terms of weeks or months.

Helping Your Teen During Therapy

• One of the most important things you can do is to educate yourself about the nature of depression in general and how it specifically affects your teen. Ask your family doctor for literature on the illness, and stay informed about emerging research as reported in medical journals. Keep in mind that as difficult as it is to live with a depressed teenager, your teen is having an equally difficult time. Maintain an open, understanding attitude and let your teen know that you are there for them. Monitor their treatments and stay involved without interrogating or putting undue pressure on them. Encourage your teen to be physically and socially active. Exercise and social interaction will go a long way toward recovery, as lethargy and isolation only magnify the negative feelings that come with depression.