May 2002

Adolescents and Depression

The changes and demands of adolescence can be challenging. As teens grow older, their lives become more complex, and they are more likely to feel anxious and depressed by events in their lives. In fact, most youth go through times when they feel down, confused, moody, and unhappy. Research shows that over 50% of youth occasionally feel sad and hopeless. On most of these occasions, moods will improve and the depression is minor and temporary.

Yet for some youth, feelings of depression are intense and long lasting. For these youth, depression interferes with life and can lead to serious problems if untreated. About 5 to 10% of adolescents in the US attempt suicide, and many more report they have considered suicide. Fortunately, few adolescent suicide attempts (less than 2%) result in death.

Suicide attempts are more common in adolescence than adulthood, but more suicides are successful among adults than youth. However, youth suicide rates have been increasing for the past 50 years. Some of the possible reasons for this increase are: high divorce rates, moving from city to city, exposure to violence, and greater pressures to succeed.

Youth who attempt suicide have usually given hints that they are depressed or have directly asked others for help before their attempt. For this reason, it is important to listen to youth and to refer them to the school nurse, community physician, counselor, or other professional if there is a hint that depression is a problem.

Research shows that depression is sometimes related to an imbalance in the chemicals of the brain. Genetics play a role in causing this type of depression, making some youth more prone to depression than others. Depression also can be related to an adolescent's personal traits. For example, research shows that when a pattern of negative thinking develops in childhood, depression is more likely to occur in adolescence.

Other factors linked with depression in youth are family conflict, parental rejection, being unpopular at school, alcohol and drug use, and having many everyday stressors or an on-going problem that is not solved. The majority of youth have been affected by depression, either in themselves or friends. It is important to talk and listen to youth when they have concerns, and to be aware of the signs that an adolescent may be in trouble or need help.

Recognizing Depression in Adolescents

If you are concerned that your son or daughter or another adolescent may need help with depression, it is important to know what signs to look for. There are four different types of symptoms of depression.

1. Emotional symptoms. These relate to how an adolescent feels. Depressed adolescents often:

• Feel sad, irritable or worthless
• Feel they can't do anything right
• May not feel the same sense of joy in situations that used to make them happy

2. Physical symptoms. These relate to the body and its daily functions. Depressed adolescents often:

• Change activity patterns. They may feel a total loss of energy. Other depressed teens have lots of extra nervous energy.
• Change patterns of eating. For example, they may eat far more or far less than they used to.
• Change patterns of sleeping. They may want to sleep all the time-or have trouble getting to sleep. Or they may wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to fall asleep again.

3. Cognitive symptoms. These relate to how an adolescent thinks about the world:

• They may view the world as being hopeless, pointless or negative
• They may have trouble concentrating and making decisions
• They may think often about death

4. Motivational symptoms. These relate to goals and ambition. Depressed adolescents often:

• Don't care about things that used to be important to them
• Feel a sense of boredom
• Lose ambition
• Say that they have no goals for the future
• Have falling grades in school
• Withdraw from usual friends and activities

For More Information:

Ohio State University Extension: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5282.html

National Network for Family Resiliency: http://www.nnfr.org/fampolicy/tr/fampol_tr09.html

University of Minnesota Extension: http:// www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/youthdevelopment/DA3083.html

Source: Steinberg, L. (1999). Adolescence (5th Ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

This issue of Ups & Downs was contributed by Rosalie Bakken, Ph.D., Adolescent Development Specialist, University of Nebraska.

Ups & Downs is edited by Rosalie Bakken, Ph.D., Adolescent Development Specialist, University of Nebraska.