青少年抑郁症的概述

根据一项调查，每年多达青少年经历抑郁症的8％。当时年轻的成年人达到21岁，一项研究发现，近15％的人至少有一种情绪障碍的一集。抑郁症会导致学校困难等问题，与关系的困难，减少享受生活。最糟糕的是，抑郁症可以导致自杀，这是美国青少年死亡原因之一。

抑郁症是一种疾病很多原因和许多形式。它是一个一个人的情绪or emotions—not an attitude that someone can “control” or “snap out of.” But it is treatable with psychotherapy and/or medication, which is why it's especially important for parents and caregivers to educate themselves about the disorder.

Symptoms

成年人有时不会识别青少年的抑郁症状，因为这种疾病看起来与成年人中的疾病看起来很含糊。抑郁症的少年可能有一些或所有这些疾病的迹象：

• Sad or depressed mood
• Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness
• Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• 哭
• 无法睡觉或睡得太多
• 食欲不振或增加食欲
• 即使在治疗中，也不会消失的疼痛和痛苦
• Irritability
• Feeling tired despite getting enough sleep
• Inability to concentrate
• Thoughts of suicide, talk of suicide, or suicide attempts

Types of Teen Depression

国家精神卫生研究所指出，青少年有两种常见的抑郁症：主万博手机客户端要的抑郁症和心肌疾病（现在称为持续抑郁症）。

• Major depressive disorder, also called major depression, is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Major depression is disabling and prevents a person from functioning normally. An episode of major depression may occur only once in a person's lifetime, but more often, it recurs throughout a person's life.
• 令人难以造算的障碍症, also called dysthymia, is characterized by long-term (two years or longer) but less severe symptoms that may not disable a person but can prevent one from functioning normally or feeling well. People with dysthymia may also experience one or more episodes of major depression during their lifetimes.

Causes

想到了很多原因of depression。最有可能许多因素behind who develops depression and who doesn’t, and these factors are no different for teens.

• Traumatic life event,如丧失爱人或宠物，离婚或再婚。任何导致遇险或创伤的事件，甚至只是生活方式的重大变化，都可以在脆弱的个人中引发抑郁症。
• Social situation/family circumstances.Unfortunately, there are teens who live in difficult circumstances. Domestic violence, substance abuse, poverty or other family issues can cause stress and contribute to depression in a teen.
• 遗传/生物学。It has been found that depression runs in families and that there is a genetic basis for depression. Keep in mind, though, that teens who have depression in their family will not necessarily get the illness, and teens without a history of depression in their family can still get the disorder.
• Medical conditions.Occasionally, symptoms of depression can be a sign of another medical illness, such as hypothyroidism, or other disorders.
• Medications/illegal drugs.Some legal, prescription medications can have depression as a side effect. Certain illegal drugs (street drugs) can also cause depression.

Diagnosis

青少年的抑郁症最常被初级保健医生诊断出来。

如果怀疑青少年抑郁症，医生通常会从可能包括验血的体检。你的青少年的儿科医生会想要rule out any other medical illnessesthat may be causing or contributing to your teen's symptoms.

Your child will also be given a psychological evaluation. This often involves a depression questionnaire as well as a discussion about the severity and duration of their symptoms.

Treatment

初级保健（GLAD-PC）的青少年抑郁症指南建议在青少年抑郁症的管理方面推荐以下内容：

• 教育青少年和有关可用治疗选择的家庭
• Developing a treatment plan that includes specific treatment goals that address functioning at home and school
• Collaborating with other mental health resources in the community
• Creating asafety plan如果青少年的症状变得更糟或经历自杀思维，则应采取步骤
• 在开始其他治疗之前，考虑主动支持和监控
• Consulting a mental health specialist if symptoms are moderate or severe
• 纳入基于循证的治疗，例如认知行为治疗，人际治疗和抗抑郁药
• Continuing to monitor symptoms and functioning during antidepressant treatment; doctors and family member should watch for signs that symptoms are worsening and for suicidal thinking or behaviors

应对

与你的青少年交谈你的担忧。为什么他们表现出某种方式可能有一个特定的原因。开放沟通线让您的少年了解您，您可以谈论情况并提供支持。

Other things that may help your teen manage symptoms of depression include:

• 谈论与家人和朋友的担忧
• Having a healthy support system
• Using good stress management techniques
• Eating a healthy diet
• 经常锻炼
• 寻找新的东西来期待
• 加入支持小组，离线或在线

另外，如果您对抑郁症有疑虑，请与您的儿科医生或家庭医师交谈。您的提供商可能能够与青少年讨论这种情况，排除了行为的医学原因，推荐一个心理治疗师，或规定medication。

Lastly, never ignore the signs or symptoms of depression. Depression is treatable and there is help available for both you and your teen. If left untreated, depression can lead to thoughts of suicide or even the act itself.

If yourteen talks about suicideor attempts suicide, get help immediately. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites suicide as the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24.