Depression is not rare in adolescence. Nine percent of adolescents suffer with this illness. Frequently, adolescents are unaware of their depressed feelings. Friends and family members may only recognize depression when teenagers engage in risky behavior or perceive themselves to be just "bad".

The Importance of Early Recognition
Depression is serious. It does not go away without treatment. If untreated, it may recur for many years. When the adolescent experiences feelings of worthlessness and excessive guilt, these may indicate that a suicide attempt may occur. Sometimes suicide is the result, and it is a leading cause of death in adolescence.

With early recognition and treatment of depression, the course of this illness is shortened and the adolescent may be free of depression in adulthood.

Distinguishing a Sad Mood from a Depression
A sad mood is a common temporary emotion that is part of the human condition. While depression may last for weeks or months, a severe depression leads to significant impairment such as a decline in academic performance and poor peer relations.

Alerting Signs of a Depression

• Loss of interest or pleasure in most daily activities.
• Significant increase or decrease in appetite with weight gain or loss.
• Change in sleep patterns.
• Observable increase or decrease in physical activity.
• Rapid mood changes.
• Decreased concentration and ability to think.
• Recurrent expressions of death or suicide.
• Frequent absence from, or poor performance in, school.
• Participation in antisocial behavior.
• abuse of alcohol or other drugs.

Recommendations
If depression is suspected in a teenager, a thorough assessment by a pediatrician or family physician should be obtained. If depression is present, an adolescent psychiatrist should be consulted since depression is a serious illness. A psychiatrist will diagnose and advise the parents on the type of treatment that should be given to the adolescent. The family should discuss any questions or concerns they have about depression and its treatment with the psychotherapist. The parents, teachers, and adolescent's physicians should all remember that adolescent depression can be treated successfully.

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