Depression is a disease that afflicts the human psyche in such a way that the afflicted tends to act and react abnormally toward others and themselves. Therefore it comes to no surprise to discover that adolescent depression is strongly linked to teen suicide. "Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youth's aged 15 to 19 than cardiovascular disease or cancer" (Blackman, 1995). Despite this increased suicide rate, depression in this age group is greatly under diagnosed and leads to serious difficulties in school, work and personal adjustment, which may often continue, into adulthood. How prevalent are mood disorders in children and when should an adolescent with changes in mood be considered clinically depressed?

It's has been said that the reason why depression is often over looked in children and adolescents is because "children are not always able to express how they feel" Brown (1996). Sometimes the symptoms of mood disorders take on different forms in children than in adults. Adolescence is a time of emotional turmoil; mood swings, gloomy thoughts, and heightened sensitivity. Also, adolescence is a time of rebellion and experiment

http://www.mhsource.com/advocacy/narsad/childmood.html.

Blackman, M. (1995, May). You asked about... adolescent depression. The Canadian Journal of CME [Internet]. Available HTTP:

er problems, or are ill themselves, teens may feel the tension and try to distract their parents" (Oster & Montgomery 1996) This "distraction" could include increased disruptive behavior, self-inflicted isolation and even verbal threats of suicide.

Once it has been determined that the adolescent has the disease of depression, what can be done about it? There are two main avenues to treatment: "psychotherapy and medication." (Blackman 1995) The majority of the cases of adolescent depression is mild and can be dealt with through several psychotherapy sessions with intense listening, advice and encouragement. Co morbidity is not unusual in teenagers, and possible pathology, including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, learning disability or attention deficit hyperactive disorder, should be searched for and treated, if present (Blackman, 1995). For the more severe cases of depression, especially those with constant symptoms, medication may be necessary and without pharmaceutical treatment, depressive conditions could escalate and become fatal. Regardless of the type of treatment chosen, "it is important for children suffering from mood disorders to receive prompt treatment because early onset places children !

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