Depression Treatment

 

Depression treatment among children and adolescents vary from those administered to adults due to differences in treatment responsiveness, physical make-up and causes of depression.

Treatments targeted at children and teens came about with the recent recognition of depression as occurring or existing among the younger set. Previously, it was believed that children do not have the physical and psychological maturity to develop depressions and the sudden socially non-responsive behaviors are natural rites of passage toward adulthood.

But as proven by several clinical investigations, around 6% of children and teenage population suffer from depression ranging from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Disthymic Disorder, Adjustment Disorder or Bipolar Disorder.

Depression treatment for children and adolescents commonly include a two-fold strategy: psychotherapy (direct personal intervention by a trained professional) and medication.

Psychotherapy treatments vary but the underlying mission is to reduce the symptoms of depression. The goals include improving the patient’s coping skills, problem-solving skills, confidence level, interpersonal relationships (parents, peers and community), academic function and psychomotor function.

The type of psychotherapy depression treatment depends upon the kind of depression a patient has. MDD cases often used psycho-dynamic psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), family therapy, group therapy or a series of social skills training.

Most psychotherapy programs encourage the participation of parents or guardians in implementing the treatment due to the fact that family situation is often a root cause of the depression among children and teens. Parents and other family members also need to be educated with the reality of depression in the family and must understand the role they have in its occurrence, treatment and prevention.