Should Teens Be Screened for Depression?
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About 5% of adolescents are clinically depressed at some point during this stage of childhood.

Often, the symptoms of major depression are explained away as normal “mood swings.”

If undiagnosed and untreated, adolescent depression can lead to significant problems, even suicide.

Recently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that all adolescents (12-18 years old) be screened for major depressive disorder (MDD) as long as systems to ensure accurate diagnosis, psychotherapy and follow-up are in place.

Recent studies show that screening tools can effectively diagnose MDD in this age group.

The symptoms of clinical depression include persistent sadness, irritability, loss of interest or pleasure in most activities and social isolation.

Other symptoms include decline in school performance, anger, sleep problems, change in appetite, and vague, non-specific pain (headaches, stomachaches, etc.).

Depressed individuals may exhibit a loss of energy, changes in weight, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt.

They may also have difficulty concentrating and may experience recurring thoughts of death or suicide.

Signs must persist for at least two weeks.

Risk factors for MDD include a parent with depression, chronic illness, traumatic life events or a previous mental health condition.

Adolescent girls are twice as likely to be depressed as adolescent boys.

MDD can impair a teen’s ability to function.

Other consequences can be early pregnancy, increased physical illness, increased risk of being hospitalized (for both mental and physical health problems), substance abuse and, most troubling, increased risk of suicide.

Fortunately, evidence is mounting that certain antidepressants can effectively treat major depression in adolescents.

Also, certain forms of psychotherapy can help.

Medication and psychotherapy working in tandem seems to have the best results.

Adolescents with MDD are at risk for having future episodes of depression as an adult.

Indeed, an estimated 20% of adolescents will have an episode of depression at some point in their lives.

Evidence indicates that parents are even less likely than their adolescent children to recognize that they may be clinically depressed.

The hormones that surge during adolescence can make it difficult for any of us to decide what is “normal behavior” and what is a serious problem that needs treatment.

Screening all adolescents is a good step toward figuring this out.

But as the recommendation states, proper treatment and follow-up must be available.

Sadly, a longstanding shortage of trained mental health professionals persists.

If this shortfall can be remedied, universal screening can be implemented.

Hopefully it may even save some lives.