It is estimated that less than one-third of children and adolescents with depression receive treatment.
This may be due, in part, to the old belief that young people do not get depression or that it is normal behavior for their age.
The type of treatment given will depend on whether it is a first depressive episode, the severity of the depression…
However, new studies indicate depression is a rising problem for children and adolescents, and new developments for the treatment of their depression probably will be coming in the near future.
For now, treatment for depression in young people is similar to treatment for depression in adults. The controversy lies in whether the medications for depression are safe for growing and developing children and adolescents. No long-term studies are yet available to answer this question.
The type of treatment given will depend on whether it is a first depressive episode, the severity of the depression, and the issues related to the cause of the depression, such as family conflict or academic problems.
The main types of treatment of depression in young people include:
- Family education, which helps the family work as a team through the depression.
- Professional counseling, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Another therapy available to treat severe depression or depression that has not been helped by medications and professional counseling is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This procedure is rarely performed on young people.
If the child or adolescent has another illness along with depression, he or she will need to continue receiving treatment for the other illness. Tell all health professionals what medications the child or adolescent is taking and the treatment he or she is receiving.
If the child or adolescent is showing warning signs of suicide, a brief hospitalization may be required for the young person’s safety.
What to Think About
Family involvement in the treatment for depression can be very important, especially for children and teens. Sometimes parents of depressed children and teens also may be or become depressed and need treatment themselves.
The sooner treatment begins, the more rapidly the person with depression is likely to recover. Waiting to seek treatment for depression may result in a longer and more difficult recovery.
It may take 4 to 6 weeks for a medication to become effective. It can be difficult to wait during this time to see improvement in depressive symptoms. Certain medications may work better for some young people than others; a child or adolescent may need to try several different medications before successful medical treatment is found.
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