Adolescent depression

Alternative names:

depression in adolescents; teenage depression

Symptoms:

• depressed or irritable mood
• temper, agitation
• loss of interest in activities
• reduced pleasure in daily activities
• change in appetite, usually a loss of appetite
• change in weight (unintentional weight loss or unintentional weight gain)
• persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep (insomnia)
• sleeping difficulty
• excessive daytime sleepiness
• fatigue
• difficulty concentrating
• memory loss (amnesia) episodes
• preoccupation with self
• feelings of worthlessness or sadness
• excessive or inappropriate guilt feelings
• acting-out behavior
• thoughts about suicide or abnormal thoughts about death
• plans to commit suicide or actual suicide attempt
• excessively irresponsible behavior pattern

Note: Symptoms often persist for weeks or months

Signs and tests:

A physical examination rules out medical causes for the symptoms. A psychological evaluation confirms depression.