Depressed Teens Shown New Treatment Light

New research has found that there may be new hope for depressed teens who do not respond to treatment, such as anti-depressants, the first time around.

Many people question whether depressed or troubled teens should even be taking anti-depressants. This debate has been of great concern to parents and this new study offers a bit of light on this ever popular subject.

What the new research has uncovered is that adding behavioral talk therapy and switching medications when the original treatment doesn’t seem to work is becoming the most effective alternative. Sometimes only switching medications will do the same.

Although some research has found that kids on antidepressants have a higher rate of suicidal thoughts and behavior, most of the benefits outweigh the risks for children and teens under the age of 19. Around 60% of teens with depression respond to antidepressant treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRI treatment in conjunction with psychotherapy is a common first-line treatment for teens. Prozac is the only drug approved by the FDA for children, but other medications are prescribed.

For the 40% who do not respond to the first therapy, most people do not know what to do next. Doctors say that it is the lack of research on children that makes this a problem. This latest study offers a glimpse of light into possible new therapies for these teens and children with difficult to treat depression. The study show that there was a 54.8% response for those teens who switched to talk therapy, only 40% in those who switched medications.

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