Adolescent depression

Abstract

Feelings of sadness and despondency in the face of a disappointment or loss are both natural and expected. All adolescents occasionally experience distress and sadness. When such dysphoria lingers for weeks, months, or longer and limit the individual's ability to function, then the person may be suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD), which can have adverse consequences on an adolescent's academic performance, social life, and family relationships (Harrington & Dubicka, 2001; Kessler, Foster, Saunders, & Stang, 1995). MDD is also associated with several other mental health problems, suicide, and hospitalizations (Fergusson & Woodward, 2002; Lewinsohn, Rohde, & Seeley, 1998; Rohde, Kahler, Lewinsohn, Brown, 2004; Resnick et al., 1997; Weissman et al., 1999) and is the most common mental health disorder in the United States (Kessler, Berglund, Demler, Jin, & Walters, 2005). Given the severity and chronicity of depression, it is important for health providers to learn to identify and diagnose mood disorders and to become familiar with evidence-based treatments. This chapter reviews the epidemiology, phenomenology, diagnosis, course, and treatment of depression in adolescents. We begin with a discussion of the nature, core features, and phenomenology of depression. Next, we review issues concerning the detection of MDD in community settings and provide an overview of current empirically supported psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatments. We end with suggestions for a research agenda concerning depression in adolescents. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.