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Depression is more than getting a bad case of the blues.
It is a mood disorder and it can and does affect
adolescents. It can affect anyone at any time.
"Untreated depression probably has an even greater impact
on children and adolescents than it does on adults," says
James Beeghly, M.D., UI Department of Psychiatry, "because
young people are going through critical developmental
stages." It is important to get treatment for depression
before teens react to the pain by turning to drugs or
alcohol--before things get out of hand.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death in
10- to 24-year olds. "We are improving our understanding
of depression in this age group and are making steady
progress in learning how to treat it," Beeghly says.
Having depression doesn't mean that person is weak, or a
failure, or isn't trying. It means they need help.
People suffering from depression should remember they are
not alone. Help is available.
Good news
While the recovery rate from a single episode of major
depression in children and adolescents is quite high,
episodes are likely to recur. Prompt identification and
treatment of depression can reduce its duration and
severity.
Treatments include:
- Psychotherapy--talking about feelings with a
trained professional.
- Medication--can effectively treat depression.
Antidepressant medications are not uppers and are not
addictive.
- Combination--two is sometimes better than one.
Treatment can help most depressed people start to feel
better in a few weeks.
For further information or to make an appointment,
contact UI Behavioral Health at 319-384-8999, ext. 1003, or
toll free at 877-384-8999, ext 1003. Trained professionals
are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer
your questions and provide referrals.
Signs of depression
Contrary to popular thought, not all adolescents
experience intense emotional fluctuations that verge on a
psychiatric disorder. Adolescents who are depressed may be
hypersensitive and overreact to minor problems or
embarrassments. "Any major change
in a child or adolescent's school performance,
friendships, hygiene, habits, or recreational substance use
should be the cause of increased suspicion of depression,"
says Beeghly. Other signs include:
- Lack of interest in friends and activities
- Absences from school
- Drop in academic performance
- Withdrawal from family, decreased communication
- Increased crying, irritability, anger, mood swings,
reckless behavior
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
- Talking about or attempting to run away
- Sadness, inappropriate overwhelming guilt
- Expresses feelings of hopelessness,
worthlessness
- Significant changes in appetite, body weight, and
sleep patterns
- Drug or alcohol abuse
The stats*
- Approximately 2.5 percent of young children and 8.3
percent of adolescents suffer from depression. Fifty
percent of those have at least one other psychiatric
disorder.
- Of children treated for major depression, 66 to 70
percent will experience a relapse.
- Of adolescents with untreated major depression, 20 to
30 percent will develop bipolar disorder.
*From the National Institute of Mental Health
Risk factors
- A family history of depression--especially if parents
exhibited same tendencies when young
- Abuse or neglect
- Chronic illness.such as cancer
- Trauma, including.natural disasters
- Loss of a close friend.or parent
- Breakup of a romantic relationship
- Attention, conduct,.or learning disorder
For more information:
Listed above are several Web sites that offer additional
information on this topic. University of Iowa Health Care
does not sponsor or endorse these sites, or guarantee the
accuracy of the information contained on these sites. These
links are here for general information only, and should not
be used for personal diagnosis or treatment. If you have any
questions, please contact UI
Health Access.
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