Incidence of depression in adolescents is on the rise and affect about 20% of the teenage population. Teenage depressions may be quite intense affecting their life in all aspects, academic, social and emotional. However, recent study indicates that teenage depression is short lived and is not necessarily a condition that will affect the mental health of the teenager when he grows up.
Researcher from UCLA said that about 60% of the cases of teenage depression do not foretell any form of future depressive tendencies. Research also points out that teenage depressions may exist along with anxiety disorders, and relatively poor social interactions leading to less social relationships.According to the study, children who have shown symptoms of distress, anxiety, and fear by the age of five are the ones who grow up to have depressions at the age of 15 or 20. Recurring depressions occur in teens with poor social relationships at the age of 15. Also children of depressive mothers are at a higher risk than others, while girls tend to be at a greater risk from depression than boys.
The results of the study were presented at the American Psychological Society's annual convention in Los Angeles.
Reference: University of California Los Angels, Press Release, May 2005
