FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TEENAGE DEPRESSION

Q: What is a mood disorder?

A: A mood disorder (also called an "affective disorder") refers to disturbances in mood that are medical in origin. Major depression, manic-depressive illness, and related anxiety disorders are physical diseases, which cause the brain to improperly regulate the chemicals that govern thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

Q: How many American teenagers are clinically depressed?

A: It is estimated that five percent of all teenagers will suffer from major depression. Unfortunately, only 20 percent of these teenagers will be diagnosed and even fewer will receive proper treatment.

Q: Is depression affected by gender?

A: Young children experience mood disorders at an equal rate, but by adolescence twice as many girls as boys become depressed. This ratio continues into adulthood.

Q: Is it easy or difficult to diagnose adolescent depression?

A: It can be challenging to diagnose clinical depression in adolescents because the teenage years can be difficult and often the normal "moodiness" of adolescence masks an underlying depressive disorder.

Unfortunately, depression is not the best word to describe what children and adolescents experience with a mood disorder. Most teenagers actually tend to get much more cranky and angry instead of sad.

Professionals are trained to recognize the ways in which teenagers unknowingly mask their depressions, such as with drug and alcohol abuse. These behaviors may be the way a teenager deals with feelings of worthlessness and despair that come with depression.

Q: What role does stress play in clinical depression?

A: Sometimes stress can precipitate an episode of depression or mania in someone who is particularly susceptible -- for example, someone who has a family history of depression.

Q: Are antidepressants addictive?

A: No. Doctor-prescribed antidepressants are neither addictive nor habit forming. They do not cause an emotional high or numbness. Antidepressant medications repair brain chemistry so the brain can function normally.

Q: Will my depression ever go away for good?

A: Clinical depression and manic depressive disorder tend to be episodic in nature. These illnesses are treatable, but right now cannot be cured. The goal of treatment should be to manage the disease, decrease the severity of a depressive episode and keep recurrences to a minimum.

Q: What is the difference between depression and manic-depressive illness?

A: Clinical depression is also called "unipolar" depression because a person's mood swings only in one direction - down. Normal periods are separated by a steady drop in mood, which becomes lower and lower. In contrast, manic depression is "bipolar," because the mood swings range from low to high (manic) and back again.

Q: Is there a connection between alcohol or drug abuse and mood disorders?

A: Yes, definitely. A significant number of teenagers who abuse these substances are really suffering from an underlying mood disorder. Without realizing it, they may be trying to "self medicate" their symptoms of clinical depression or manic depressive illness.

Teens with mood disorders who abuse alcohol or drugs may seek these substances because they temporarily offer relaxation, or help them feel more confident or energetic. Unfortunately, this is temporary and can cause the depression to worsen, resulting in two serious conditions rather than one.

Q: Is there a relationship between eating disorders and major depression?

A: Yes. Often teenagers who suffer from bulimia or anorexia and are bingeing, purging, or barely eating may have an underlying depressive disorder.

Q: How can I tell whether someone is depressed or just dealing with teenage stresses?

A: Doctors look for the following symptoms. Five or more, lasting for at least two weeks and as a change from the usual you, indicate depression.

• Depressed mood (life seems sad, blah, empty)
• Much less interest or pleasure in almost all activities
• Significantly less or more appetite
• Sleeping more than usual, or inability to sleep
• Slowed speech or movements, or inability to sit still--enough that other people notice
• Fatigue, loss of energy
• Feeling worthless or extremely guilty
• Difficulties in thinking or concentrating

Day for Night is NOT about Suicide Prevention or Violence Prevention. This film is not intended for use in Suicide Prevention Programming or Violence Prevention Education.

Use of Information

The information on this site is intended to help users learn about teenage depression and related mood disorders. It is provided for informational and referral purposes only. The web site should NOT be used as a substitute for medical advice, counseling, or other health-related services or as a replacement for the services of a trained medical or mental health professional. For medical or mental health advice, services, and treatment, consult your primary care physician or a qualified mental health care professional.