Prevention of Depression in At-Risk Adolescents

TLDR

Adolescent depression is common, linked to relationship difficulties, academic and occupational impairment, substance abuse, suicide risk, chronic adult depression, and developmental consequences, yet only about 25 % receive treatment and 20 % develop persistent, hard‑to‑treat depression, underscoring the need for prevention programs. Despite advances yielding roughly 60 % acute response and 30 % remission, only about 25 % of depressed youth receive treatment and.

Abstract

A COMMON AND episodic condition that is associated with difficulties in relationships, impaired school and work performance, and increased risk for substance abuse and suicide. 1 Adolescent-onset depression is strongly associated with chronic and recurrent depression in adulthood, 2,3 which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. 4Despite substantial progress in the treatment of adolescent depression (ie, acute response and remission rates are about 60% and 30%, respectively), 5 only about 25% of depressed youth receive treatment 6 and at least 20% develop recurrent, persistent, and chronic depression that is very difficult to treat. 5,7The serious developmental consequences of adolescent depression and the associated treatment challenges once it has developed underscore the need for programs aimed at prevention. 8 One of the most potent and clinically salient risk factors for the development of depression in youth is parental depression. 9Offspring of de-