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    TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR TEEN DEPRESSION
    By Tess Thompson

    Distinguishing passing phases of sadness and melancholy from clinical depression
    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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