Teenage Depression Concerns About Treatments

Teenagers can be moody and overly dramatic, so sometimes diagnosing a teenager with depression can be difficult. They often don't want to admit that they are depressed about school, sports or other things that are going on in their lives. Not to mention, like an adult, they worry about the effects that medications could have on them.

• Treatments: Depending on how severe the depression is, there are several ways that teenage depression can be treated. It is not always necessary to put a teenager on medication for their depression. Sometimes, the case is more severe and in-patient treatment is needed to help them get better while other times counseling is all they need.


• Antidepressants: The FDA has approved several different types of antidepressants for teenagers. While it is not a permanent solution to a problem, antidepressants can help a teenager get through a tough time they are having. As a guideline, the first twelve weeks that a teen is on any antidepressant, they should be closely reviewed to make sure that the medication is working and there are no adverse effects. Sometimes, too strong of a dose of medication can turn a teenager into a zombie, making them sluggish and slow.


• Misdiagnosis: If your teenager is experiencing manic moods where sometimes they are in a really good mood while other times they are moody and very irritable, you should have them tested for being bipolar. This is a common misdiagnosis that is treated in a similar way; however, the symptoms can be severe and hard to deal with.


• Risks: If your teenager has recently started taking an antidepressant and they start showing signs of aggressive behavior, irritability, and worsening moods, their doctor should be notified immediately. They need to have their medication changed or further testing may be needed.