A mental disorder that causes a continuous feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed that happens in teenagers is called teen depression. It negatively affects the behavior and thinking of teenagers and may cause functional, physical, and emotional issues. While this mental condition may happen at any time, the symptoms can be different among people (such as teens and adults).
It is important to know that teen depression is not just a weakness or something it is possible to overcome. Furthermore, this mental disease may cause serious problems and needs long-term treatment. Most teenagers with depression get better with treatment that often includes psychological counseling and medicines.
Symptoms
The symptoms of teen depression include emotional and behavioral changes that often cause distress at home or school, in social activities, and in other life areas. Check below some symptoms usually teenagers with depression experience:
Emotional Symptoms
Get immediate medical care if any of the following symptoms occur. For example:
- Sadness
- Crying episodes without obvious reasons
- Hopelessness or feeling empty
- Frustration of angry feelings
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Loss of interest in usual activities, family, or friends
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty concentrating, thinking, making decisions, or focusing
- Recurrent thoughts about death or suicide
- Increased sensitivity to rejection or failure
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Behavioral Symptoms
Any of the following symptoms may indicate depression. For example:
- Lack of energy
- Tiredness
- Sleeping problems (insomnia) or sleeping too much
- Misuse of alcohol or illegal drugs
- Appetite changes (including reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings and weight gain)
- Restlessness or agitation
- Slowed body movements, speaking, or thinking
- Social isolation
- Recurrent complaints of unexplained headaches or body aches
- Poor personal hygiene
- Reduced school performance
- Self-harm (such as burning or cutting)
- Suicidal thoughts or even attempts
However, there are multiple health conditions that cause previous symptoms. That’s why you should see a doctor for a diagnosis if any of the previous symptoms happen. If previous symptoms happen temporarily and do not last long periods, you might not have depression but if the symptoms happen regularly and last more than 3 months, you should seek medical help.
In addition, if you or a loved person experiences suicidal thoughts or attempts, you should go to the nearest emergency room or call 988 in the U.S.
Causes
While the exact cause of teen depression is not known, physicians believe the following problems contribute to its development. Examples include:
- Brain chemistry – Sometimes, neurotransmitters that appear naturally in the brain are abnormal or impaired, which may lead to changes in the nervous system and cause depression.
- Hormones – Hormonal changes also may trigger depression in teenagers.
- Inherited traits – This condition mostly happens in people with a family history of depression.
- Childhood trauma – Physical or emotional abuse or loss of a loved one (such as a parent) may lead to certain brain chemistry changes that cause depression.
Risk Factors
There are multiple factors that may contribute to or even trigger depression. For example:
- Certain health problems (such as obesity, long-term bullying, reduced self-esteem, and others)
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Other mental disorders (such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and others)
- Learning disability
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Chronic physical conditions (including cancer, diabetes, asthma, and others)
- Some personality traits (such as low self-esteem, being pessimistic, and others)
- Misuse of alcoholic drinks or illegal drugs
- Those who are in an unsupportive environment and are gay, lesbian, or transgender
In addition, a family history of mental disorders also may increase your risk of developing depression. For example parents or siblings with depression, bipolar disorder, misuse of alcohol or recreational drugs, and others.
Complications
Those who ignore the symptoms and do not treat the condition may experience some complications. For example:
- Misuse of alcohol or street drugs
- Family and relationship problems
- Academic issues
- Suicide thoughts or even attempts
How to Prevent Teen Depression?
Generally, there are no ways to prevent depression in teenagers because the exact cause is not known but the following tips may help you cope with symptoms. For example:
- Manage stress
- Make a healthy sleep cycle and reduce time using electronics
- Get social support and friendship
- You should get treatment for existing health problems, especially if these conditions may worsen depression symptoms
- Follow the depression treatment exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Otherwise, it may lead to unpleasant outcomes.
Diagnosis
If doctors suspect depression in teenagers, they perform the following examinations and tests to confirm the condition and exclude other mental health problems that cause similar symptoms. Examples include:
- Physical examination – During this procedure, doctors will check you for underlying physical problems associated with depression.
- Laboratory tests – Doctors usually perform a blood test to check the thyroid gland and the hormone levels it produces.
- Psychological evaluation – This test involves questions about your feelings, behavior, and thoughts.
Depression Types
The symptoms usually appear differently among people because it depends on the type you experience. Check some depression types below:
- Anxious distress – It often causes loss of control, restlessness, and concerns about certain possible events.
- Melancholic features – This is a severe form of depression associated with mood swings, appetite changes, and feelings of guilt, agitation, or sluggishness.
- Atypical features – In such cases, people usually experience increased appetite, sleeping too much, increased sensitivity to rejection, and others.
In addition, there are multiple mental disorders that cause similar symptoms to depression. Check below some of them:
- Both types of bipolar disorder – These conditions are mood disorders that cause frequent mood swings.
- Cyclothymic disorder – This condition is similar to bipolar disorder but causes milder symptoms.
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder – It is also a mood disorder that happens in children and may lead to severe anger and irritability. However, it may occur in adults as well.
- Persistent depressive disorder – This condition is also known as dysthymia and it is similar to depression but causes milder symptoms.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder – It involves depression that appears often within a week before menstrual periods. Normally, the symptoms disappear when the periods end.
Treatment
The treatment for people with depression may be different because it depends on several factors. These include your age, the severity of the condition, existing health problems, and depression type. However, physicians prescribe talk therapy (also called psychotherapy) and medications for people with depression. For people with severe depression, hospitalization is often required.
Medicines
Fluoxetine and Escitalopram and medications approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to treat depression in teenagers. However, these antidepressants may cause certain adverse reactions that outweigh the benefits. Consult with your healthcare professional before taking any of the previous medications.
Psychotherapy
This treatment option helps people with depression lessen the symptoms and learn techniques that help to cope with problems. There are different talk therapy types (including cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and others).
Frequently Asked Questions
How common is teen depression?
This condition occurs in more than 20% of teenagers between 12 and 17 years old in the U.S. according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
What are the most common symptoms of teen depression?
These include:
- Substance use (including smoking cigarettes, alcoholic drinks, or street drugs)
- Self-harm
- Suicide thoughts
- Eating habits change such as losing or gaining weight
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
- Sleeping disturbances (insomnia)
- Persistent mood swings
If you notice that your child experiences any of the previous symptoms, immediately visit a mental health professional.
How do usually doctors confirm depression in teenagers?
Mental health providers usually confirm teen depression when the symptoms happen daily for at least 14 days. Moreover, they may perform a physical examination, laboratory tests, and psychological evaluation to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms. If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare professional.
