depression in adolescents

Depression is a medical condition that leads to intense feelings of sadness or despair. These feelings will not go away on their own. They are not necessarily related to a particular life event.

 

Depression is a disorder of the brain. Researchers believe that chemicals called neurotransmitters are involved in depression. Nerve impulses cause the release of neurotransmitters from one nerve cell to the next. This release allows cells to communicate with one another. Too little or too much of these important neurotransmitters may be released. This can cause or contribute to depression. These neurotransmitters include serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

 

Some symptoms are common in people of all ages with depression. These symptoms include:

 

Teens with depression may have additional symptoms, including:

 

There are many theories about what causes depression. Depression may be caused by one or more of the following: certain illnessescertain medicines, including antibiotics and medicines used to treat acnechanges in brain chemicalsheredityhormonal changeslack of sunlightmajor stressesnegative thinking patterns

Depression may not be preventable. However, these steps may be helpful in preventing it: avoiding alcohol and illegal drugsavoiding cigarette smokinggetting prompt treatment for other psychiatric disordersseeking effective treatment for chronic diseasestalking with a counselor after experiencing a major trauma or loss

Screening tests for depression in teens include: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) 19the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scalethe Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) 18the Zung Depression Scale