Tuesday, September 18, 2012

5 Treatment Possibilities for Teens with Depression

By Earlene Linke


1. Individual Therapy- Individual cognitive behavioral therapy will be used to treat symptoms of depression in teens in many cases. This therapy helps the young adult work through problems and emotions, while identifying the causes of the condition and resolving any underlying issues. These therapy sessions may be scheduled once or twice a week or they may occur almost daily, depending on how severe the depression actually is.

2. Medications - Teenagers suffering from depression may be prescribed a number of antidepressant medications. These medications include Prozac and other well-known medications that are also used for adults with depression symptoms. Some antidepressant medications carry an increased risk of suicide in teens, so these medications should only be used under close supervision of their prescribing doctors. Medications are generally used in combination with therapy for the most effective treatment plan.

3. Family Therapy - Another type of treatment for depression in teens is family counseling. These sessions can help the whole family understand what depression is and what the teen is going through. These sessions may also address and family issues that may be contributing to the teens problems. All immediate family members should attend the sessions so that the therapist can see the family dynamic and to teach everyone how to listen and support each other. Depression in one member of the family can affect the rest of the family as well.

4. Inpatient Programs - For cases of severe depression where the teen may be a danger to themselves or others, it may be necessary to hospitalize the patient. If the teen has attempted or threatened suicide or is suffering from bipolar disorder, psychosis, or another complicated depressive disorder, hospitalization may be needed until the symptoms are under control and the teen is on a successful medication plan.

5. Electroconvulsive Therapy - In the most severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy (formerly known as electroshock therapy) may be used when all other treatments have failed. Patients are now sedated, so the procedure is painless. This type of therapy may be recommended if the other treatments in this articles have been tried and were unsuccessful.




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