Treating Depression in Adolescents
Cognitive Therapy Shows Positive Effects in Teens
It's estimated that one of every 20 adolescents suffers from clinical depression. When depression begins during the teenage years, the risks are significant. Depressive episodes can reoccur and interrupt important learning and development. And among depressed teens, suicide is a significant risk, making it imperative to identify and treat young people quickly and effectively, say experts.
Among the newer antidepressant drugs, only Prozac is approved for children and teens. But as NPR's Michelle Trudeau reports, one particular type of psychotherapy has proven especially effective in alleviating depression in young people: cognitive behavior therapy, or CBT.
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