Pediatric Depression

Adolescent depression is a disorder occurring during the teenage years marked by persistent sadness, discouragement, loss of self-worth, and loss of interest in usual activities.

Causes

Depression can be a temporary response to many situations and stresses. In adolescents, depressed mood is common because of the normal maturation process, the stress associated with it, the influence of sex hormones, and independence conflicts with parents.

It may also be a reaction to a disturbing event, such as the death of a friend or relative, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or failure at school. Adolescents who have low self-esteem, are highly self-critical, and who feel little sense of control over negative events are particularly at risk to become depressed when they experience stressful events.

True depression in teens is often difficult to diagnose because normal adolescent behavior is marked by both up and down moods. These moods may alternate over a period of hours or days.

Persistent depressed mood, faltering school performance, failing relations with family and friends, substance abuse, and other negative behaviors may indicate a serious depressive episode. These symptoms may be easy to recognize, but depression in adolescents often starts very differently than these classic symptoms.

Excessive sleeping, change in eating habits, even criminal behavior (like shoplifting) may be signs of depression. Another common symptom of adolescent depression is an obsession with death, which may take the form either of suicidal thoughts or of fears about death and dying.

Adolescent girls are twice as likely as boys to experience depression.

Risk factors include:

• Stressful life events, particularly loss of a parent to death or divorce
• Child abuse - both physical and sexual
• Unstable caregiving, poor social skills
• Chronic illness
• Family history of depression
• Depression is also associated with eating disorders, particularly bulimia

Symptoms:

• Temper (agitation)
• Loss of interest in activities
• Reduced pleasure in daily activities
• Appetite changes (usually a loss of appetite but sometimes an increase)
• Weight change (unintentional weight loss or unintentional weight gain)
• Persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep (insomnia)
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Episodes of memory loss
• Preoccupation with self
• Feelings of worthlessness, sadness, or self-hatred
• Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
• Acting-out behavior (missing curfews, unusual defiance)
• Thoughts about suicide or obsessive fears or worries about death
• Plans to commit suicide or actual suicide attempt
• Excessively irresponsible behavior pattern
• Depressed or irritable mood

If these symptoms persist for at least 2 weeks and cause significant distress or difficulty functioning, treatment should be sought. If this sounds like your 12-17 year old, he or she may be suffering from adolescent depression.

Qualified adolescents who participate in this research study will receive monetary compensation, study-related medical evaluations, psychological assessments and investigational study drug at no cost.

If you would like to participate in this clinical study regarding Depresssion, please fill out our optional parent-assessment questionnaire to the right or for more information please call (877) 453-0404.