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Adolecsent Depression

The suicide rate for adolescents has increased more than 200% over the last decade. Recent studies

have shown that greater than 20% of adolescents in the general population have emotional

problems and one-third of adolescents attending psychiatric clinics suffer from depression. The

majority of teenage depressions can be managed successfully by the primary care physician with

the support of the family, says Maurice Blackman MB, FRCPC.

Depression has been considered to be the major psychiatric disease of the 20th century, affecting approximately eight million

people in North America. Adults with psychiatric illness are 20 times more likely to die from accidents or suicide than adults

without psychiatric disorder.[1] Major depression, including bipolar affective disorder, often appears for the first time during the

teenage years, and early recognition of these conditions will have profound effects on later morbidity and mortality.

Is depression in adolescents a significant problem?

The suicide rate for adolescents has increased more than 200% over the last decade.[2] Adolescent suicide is now responsible

for more deaths in youths aged 15 to 19 than cardiovascular disease or cancer. Recent studies have shown that greater than

20% of adolescents in the general population have emotional problems and one-third of adolescents attending psychiatric clinics

suffer from depression.[3] Despite this, depression in this age group is greatly underdiagnosed, leading to serious difficulties in

school, work and personal adjustment which often continue into adulthood.

Why is depression in this age group often missed?

Adolescence is a time of emotional turmoil, mood lability, gloomy introspection, great drama and heightened sensitivity. It is a

time of rebellion and behavioral experimentation. The physician's challenge is to identify depressive symptomatology which may

be superimposed on the backdrop of a more transient, but...