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TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR TEEN DEPRESSION By Tess Thompson
is fairly difficult. Differentiating clinical child depression from temporary phases can be even more difficult since children are prone to mood swings and tantrums. If your child perceives that you are likely to make fun of his worries, fears and apprehensions, he is likely to hide his feelings. Trivializing a child’s concerns and shrugging them off as petty and transient will not help you solve your child’s problem. Neither will it build a bond between you and your children. What is important to understand is that your child has a reality that is different from yours. And if you ignore the early signs of depression, feelings of despondency, helplessness, dejection and other such negative thoughts will only increase. If you have identified that your teen is suffering from some kind of a teen depression it is important that you seek professional help to confirm your doubts. If the condition is confirmed by a psychiatrist or a counselor, you should look for the various options that are available for treatment. It is important that you choose the most appropriate treatment option and monitor the course of the treatment at each stage. Whatever the option, the most important element of teen depression help can only be provided by the family in the shape of support, understanding and patience. Treatment modalities depend largely upon whether: ─ It is the first episode. ─ It is a severe or mild condition. ─ The cause of depression is a family conflict or problems with academics or any other reason. Teen depression treatment is similar to treatment for adult depression. It includes medication and professional counseling for the teen as well as the family. There are different types of counseling sessions that a professional may recommend. The choice depends on the age of the patient and the nature of the problem. Younger children are involved in play therapy while teens may have to undergo one or more of the following therapies: ─ Cognitive behavior therapy - Teens are prone to perceive imaginary dangers. This therapy focuses on promoting a mental state of certainty or acceptance or affirmation and assertiveness. ─ Interpersonal therapy – This therapy deals with problems that are related to relationships and socialization. It is an effective way for inculcating confidence in teens and removing unnecessary anxiety during social interactions. ─ Problem solving therapy - This cognitive therapy can help teens in looking at problems in an objective manner. It also trains on the manner in which they can look for solutions. ─ Family therapy – This therapy is meant for family members to enable them to manage treatment at home. It coaches the family members to understand their approach to the child and the changes that they need to make in their behavior while interacting with a depressed teen. Medications used for treating teen depression include fluoxetine, a selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly prescribed as an antidepressant. An SSRI increases the activity of serotonin (a neurotransmitter involved in depression) in the brain. Other antidepressants used for adults can also be tried for teens at times. Antidepressants have serious side effects that include suicidal behavior and therefore the family should be made aware of the side effects. The counselor or the psychiatrist must educate the primary care giver and the family members about the key behavioral symptoms to look out for. Alternative therapies like herbs and natural treatments can also help in treating teen depression. There is a possibility that the doctor may suggest them. It should be kept in mind that although alternative therapies have little or no research to support their efficacy they have been proven empirically to be of great help - in conjunction with conventional therapies and as standalone treatments. References: http://www.about-teen-depression.com/treatment-depression.html http://www.teendepression.org/articles4.html http://health.yahoo.com/depression-treatment/depression-in-childhood-and-adolescence- treatment-overview/healthwise--ty4655.html
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