Adolescent depression is a condition that is becoming more common among adolescents today. The etiology of the condition must be known in order to treat affected adolescents.
Depression is a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies (Merriam-Webster, 2014). It is most commonly found in adolescents. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 2.2 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode in the year 2012. This represented approximately 9.1 percent of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17. Depression in adolescents is a major risk factor for suicide, the second-to-third leading cause of death in this age group; more than half of adolescent suicide victims reported to have a depressive disorder at the time of death (Thapar, 2012). Biomedical and psychosocial risk factors include a family history of depression, sex, childhood abuse or neglect, stressful life events, and chronic illness (Bahtia, 2007). Other causes that contribute to depression include bullying, peer pressure, and mental disorders. Children, despite evidence of typical adult features, are more likely to show symptoms of somatic complaints, withdrawal, antisocial behavior, clinging behaviors, nightmares, and boredom (Heller, 2012). Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the country and it is on the rise as one of the most serious health concerns. Depression is ranked 4th as the leading cause of disability and premature death worldwide (Hankin, 2006). More than 70% of adolescents do not receive proper diagnosis or treatment for their depressive disorders (Bhatia, 2007). Depressive episodes beginning in adolescence can predict the incidence of severe depression in adulthood (Hankin, 2006).