Adolescent depression: assessment and treatment

Abstract

Recent recommendations include screening for depression in adolescents when systems for diagnosis, treatment, and follow up are in place; conducting a risk assessment of factors such as parental depression, comorbid mental health or chronic medical conditions, and having had a major negative life event; and that intervention with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs when adequate monitoring is available, psychotherapy, and combined treatment have been found to be effective (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2009). Kayla benefited from this model of early detection through the school nurse and early intervention and satisfactory monitoring of treatment and safety.