The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has published an updated and expanded edition of What Families Need to Know About Adolescent Depression, a guide for families on diagnosis and treatment for teenagers with depression.

“It is important that parents and children engage in dialogue to create an open and honest environment where mental health issues are discussed and treated just like any other health risks,” NAMI Executive Director Michael J. Fitzpatrick, MSW, said in a prepared statement.

“Communication is imperative,” Mr. Fitzpatrick added.

First published in 2005, the 36-page updated edition summarizes symptoms of depression and treatment options for adolescents and provides information regarding suicide prevention, healthcare, and therapy. It outlines for families the most common forms of therapy for adolescent depression (ie, psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, or a combination of the 2).

Depression Different in Teens

Symptoms of depression are often different in teenagers than in adults. Although adults most often experience sadness and loss of energy, adolescents more often experience symptoms of irritability, anger, and self-criticism.

On the basis of combined data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s 2004 to 2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, 8.5% of youth aged 12 to 17 years (about 2.1 million youth) had experienced at least 1 major depressive episode during the past year.

Females were more than twice as likely as males to have experienced a major depressive episode in the past year (12.7% vs 4.6%).

Founded in 1979, NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Read more: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/734644?src=mp&spon=34