Teen Depression Symptoms and Risk Factors

Sep 27, 2009 Michael McGrath

Teenage depression and suicide risk are intimately connected. Learn more about triggers and symptoms of adolescent depressive episodes and suicidal behavior.

Parenting teens is never easy. Teenage emotions often resemble a volatile roller coaster ride. Adolescence brings with it a flood of hormonal activity that affects teens’ moods and behavior. It’s not unusual for teens to be sad, sulky or moody. When such emotions persist for two or more weeks, however, the teen may be suffering from adolescent depression.

Teen Depression Statistics

Rates of teenage depression are high. As many as one in eight teenagers experiences depression symptoms. Many cases of teenage depression go untreated, partially because people mistake clinical depression symptoms for “normal” teenage moodiness.

Adolescent Depression Symptoms

Teen depression symptoms include some factors that are not present in adult depression, although many of the signs of adult and adolescent depression are the same. Signs of teenage depression include:
• apathy
• appetite changes (including sudden weight loss/gain)
• criminal activity
• cutting school/drop in grades
• fatigue
• feelings of guilt
• fixation on death/dying
• loss of concentration
• loss of interest in pleasurable activities
• nighttime wakefulness and daytime sleepiness
• physical pain (headaches, stomach aches, back pain)
• problems making decisions
• risky sexual activity
• social withdrawal
• substance abuse.
Note that, like adults, a teenager does not need to exhibit every possible symptom to be depressed. Teenagers may also exhibit signs of cutting or self-injury when depressed.

Teenage Depression Triggers

Adolescence is a stressful time, as many adults can remember. School performance, parent expectations, and peer pressure often place conflicting demands on teens. Other teens must handle bullying, divorce, child abuse, poverty or confusion over sexual orientation. All of these factors can trigger teen depression.

Teens with a family history of depression are at especial risk of depressive episodes, and teens who suffered from childhood depression have a high risk of an adolescent bout of depression.

Depression is often seen in combination with other mental disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and eating disorders. And, sometimes, teen depression develops without an identifiable trigger or cause.

Teen Depression and Suicide

Teen depression is tied to the high rate of suicide in adolescents. Adolescent suicide is the second leading cause of death in teenagers in the U.S.

Teen suicide statistics are frightening. Up to 500,000 U.S. teenagers attempt suicide annually. Of this number, 5,000 attempts prove successful. Teenage girls are more likely to attempt suicide. Adolescent boys are more likely to succeed in their attempts.

Adolescent Depression Treatment

Teenage depression is highly treatable once detected. Psychotherapy helps teens deal with depression symptoms, including self-harm and cutting. Combining psychotherapy with depression medication often offers the best treatment outcomes.

It should be noted that antidepressants have been linked to increases in suicidal behavior in some teens. This risk needs to be considered and balanced against the potential benefits of the depression medication. The risk of suicidal behavior is greatest in the first few weeks of antidepressant use. During this period teens should be monitored carefully for signs of suicidal behavior.

Teenage depression is a serious disorder, but with the proper care and treatment, depression symptoms will diminish, allowing depressed adolescents the chance to regain control over their lives.