Understanding Teenage Depression: Causes, Signs & Support

According to Dr. Jeanne Segal, psychologist and editor of HelpGuide.org, being irritable or argumentative are common traits of teenagers, which make it complicated to differentiate between depression and normal behavior.

Facts

• Family history of depression disorder, a parent suffering from depression, negative, disruption at home, some type of loss, suffering from anxiety or attention disorder and peer pressure are factors that lead to major depression in teenagers. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, up to 8.3 percent of adolescents in the United States suffer from depression.

Symptoms

• Isolation from family and friends, bouts of anger and crying, trouble concentrating and self-injury are signs of major depression in a teenager.

Treatment

• A treatment known as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help relieve depression in adolescents. CBT is designed to be a time-therapy that focuses on changing people's cognitive distortions in their views of themselves, the world and the future.

Risk

• Major depressive disorder presents an increased risk for illness and interpersonal and psychosocial difficulties that continue long after the depressive episode is resolved.

Warning Signs

• Although many parents may think their child's threats of suicide are an attempt to get attention, suicidal thoughts are the most important warning sign of teen depression.