Depression in Teens May Lead to Major Depression in Adults

Depression strikes people of all ages, but a new theory suggests that mildly depressed teenagers who are left untreated are at risk for major depression in adulthood.Teens experience naturally virulent mood swings, so teen depression can be difficult to diagnose. A consistent depressed mood, bad school performance and failed relationships are signs that a teen is depressed.

Other signs of teen depression are excessive sleeping, insomnia, a change in eating habits, lack of energy and obsessive thoughts of death. Close to 20 percent of teenagers have experienced feelings of depression, with teenage girls being twice as likely to suffer from the disease.

Teenagers experiencing even mild depression are more likely to have problems with depression as adults.In a 1983 research at Columbia University, 755 teenagers were interviewed about symptoms of depression, such as disruptive behavior, anxiety and substance abuse. Of these 755 teens, eight percent were found to have signs of mild depression. The researchers followed up with the depressed teens when they reached adulthood.

The results showed that the teenagers with mild depression were 4 times more likely to suffer from severe depression as adults. In addition, the risk of obsessive compulsive disorder, agoraphobia and anorexia or bulimia increased almost threefold.

The study emphasized the importance of recognizing and treating feelings of depression in teenagers. This isn't always easy, since even a healthy teen can suffer from mood swings and feelings of anger. This is part of normal adolescent behavior. For a small percentage of teens, however, these mood swings become overwhelming. They may be suffering from serious mood disorder.

The first step in helping a depressed teenager is for the parents to accept those feelings as real. A lot of parents are shocked to find that the child they love is unhappy. From their point of view, they have done everything possible to create a good life for their child. They are overwhelmed with guilt. Parents must accept that they are not at fault and that their child needs their help.

If the depression is mild, parents may choose to deal with it without professional help. Since alcohol and drugs can trigger manic episodes, parents of depressed teens must be especially vigilant in keeping illegal substances away from their teen. If the child needs to take medication, the parent must ensure that the correct dosage is taken as prescribed.

Parents can also ensure that their teen enjoys a healthy lifestyle, including adhering to a reasonable sleep schedule, a healthy diet and daily exercise. These things will go far in improving a teenager's mood. If more help is needed, the entire family should become involved in whatever therapy is deemed necessary.

Only several years ago, therapy for depressed teens was rare because teenage angst was seen as something he or she would eventually outgrow. These days, therapists view a mixture of individual therapy, peer group therapy and family therapy as the best treatment. Sometimes, a mild antidepressant is recommended. Depression does not abate if ignored.

The worse thing parents of depressed teens can do is ignore the symptoms or assume they will go away on their own. Depression is a disease requiring treatment. If adolescent depression is left untreated, the odds of the depression continuing into adulthood is high.

Argosy University offers a wide selection of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in a variety of psychology concentrations at 19 locations across the nation.

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