Adolescence is the period of puberty and psychological maturation. During this period, adolescents behave aggressively or withdraw into themselves, are in a melancholy mood and come into conflict with others. The reason is hormonal changes. Very often, against the background of hormonal changes, adolescent depression develops.         

Depression in adolescence is a biochemical and neurohormonal process that develops over several weeks or months.   

Symptoms of Teenage Depression

Parents should see a psychologist if a teenager is feeling discouraged and depressed throughout the week and if there are other signs of depression:      

• Closure, detachment from friends; 
• Absent-mindedness, loss of the ability to concentrate;
• Irritability;
• Appetite changes;
• Feeling tired, chronic fatigue;
• Complaints of pain in the head, stomach;  
• Insomnia, increased sleepiness;
• Defiant, rebellious behavior (alcohol and drug use, connections with bad companies, problems with the law, etc.);     
• Excessive aggression directed at yourself or others;  
• Suicidal thoughts . 

Causes of teenage depression

For reasons of depression in teens include:  

• Instability of the nervous system due to hormonal changes in the body;
• Psychological stress associated with finding your place in life, changing ideas about life;   
• Family problems (divorce of parents, constant quarrels, the presence of an alcoholic in the family); 
• Parental abuse of a child; 
• Decreased self-esteem, more often in girls; 
• Experiences associated with first love, or with the first sexual experience;  
• Indecision;
• Decreased school performance ; 

Diagnosing depression in adolescents 

Typically, adolescent depression is diagnosed on the basis of complaints from the child himself or from his parents and teachers, as well as psychological tests such as Zung or Beck questionnaires . For the diagnosis of a depressive state, a complex of symptoms is important, because some symptoms can occur in most adolescents. Therefore, the diagnosis should be carried out by a professional psychologist or psychotherapist. Based on the data obtained, the doctor assesses the severity of the disease and chooses the appropriate treatment. It is necessary to find out if the teenager has suicidal thoughts . suicide at this age is very common.                

Treating adolescent depression

In the treatment of adolescent depression using psychotherapy, as well as antidepressants. These methods of treatment are often combined.    

The psychiatrist conducts psychocorrection sessions with the teenager, helping him to understand himself, to understand the reasons for his painful condition.   

Parents should remember that in advanced cases, depression can drive a child to suicide. Therefore, a timely appeal to a psychotherapist is necessary .