Therapist and teen in session with text overlay asking about effective treatment for adolescent depression.

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions affecting teenagers. According to data from Mental Health America, it is estimated that over 20% of teens have depression. 15% of teens with depression experience severe impairment. This means that they are unable to function properly at work, school, or home because of their depression. In California alone, it is estimated that over 616,000 teenagers have depression. These statistics demonstrate the need for an effective mental health treatment strategy. As a parent or guardian, you might wonder what the most effective way of treating teen depression is. 

In this article, we will explore various strategies used to treat this mental health condition. We will offer guidance to parents and caregivers on various evidence-based, holistic, or pharmaceutical interventions used to treat depression. If you would like more information about this topic, visit Key Healthcare’s website today. 

Core Treatment Approaches for Adolescent Depression

Teen girl in therapy session with a concerned expression, illustrating core treatment approaches for adolescent depression.

Teen depression is primarily treated through psychotherapy. However, other methods can be used to help your teenager overcome their depression. Additionally, various types of psychotherapy can be used depending on your teen’s needs. 

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a popular mental health treatment approach. It involves talking to a mental health practitioner about one’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Talk therapy helps teenagers unpack difficult emotions that can lead to depression. It helps them address their circumstances head-on rather than avoiding difficult emotions. 

The following are popular types of talk therapy that can help your teen overcome depression: 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a form of psychotherapy used to help teens manage symptoms of depression. It is based on the idea that some mental health challenges are directly caused by negative thoughts, emotions, or behaviors. CBT encourages teens to be more aware of the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It teaches them to think differently about their circumstances, which will help manage symptoms of depression. 

Teens with depression can benefit from CBT treatment because it teaches them to recognize distorted thought patterns. For example, teens with negative thought patterns think in irrational ways, which often leads to emotional distress. In the case of depression, they may have thoughts about being worthless, helpless, or hopeless. These thoughts are not based on any fact or reality. CBT allows teens to recognize these thoughts and change their way of thinking. 

Another reason why CBT is effective in treating depression is that it is structured and goal-oriented. It uses tried and tested methods to help teens overcome their mental health struggles. 

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

IPT is a type of psychotherapy that helps improve your teen’s interpersonal effectiveness. Interpersonal effectiveness is defined as one’s ability to build meaningful relationships and navigate social situations. Teens with depression usually lack interpersonal effectiveness. They shut themselves in their ‘safe space’ and do not try to interact with others. This is attributed to feelings of guilt, shame, and low self-worth. 

Interpersonal therapy helps such teenagers develop relationships that can help improve their mental health. Instead of focusing on developmental issues, IPT addresses a teen’s current problems. It teaches them to deal with conflict, grief, or loss effectively. Additionally, IPT can help your teen learn to form and sustain relationships. As a result, it will help improve their overall mental health. 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a special form of CBT used to help teens who have trouble controlling their emotions. Depressed teens have difficulty regulating their feelings because their thoughts are often clouded by negativity and sadness. DBT focuses on teaching teens how to cope with negative emotions effectively. 

One of its core principles is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a technique used to help teens pay close attention to their thoughts and feelings. It uses techniques like mindful meditation to help your teen not get carried away by negative thoughts and feelings. Continued practice will help your teen learn to navigate complex emotions caused by depression.

Pharmacological Interventions

Depression in teens can be treated using antidepressants. These medications work in various ways. Primarily, they work by increasing neurotransmitters responsible for emotions and mood. Common antidepressants include the following: 

  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): SSRIs work by preventing the reuptake or reabsorption of serotonin back into the nerve cells. This increases the amount of serotonin available in the brain, thus improving your teen’s mood. Common SSRIs include Zoloft (sertraline), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Celexa (citalopram).
  • Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): SNRIs work in a similar way to SSRIs. They have the added advantage of regulating the uptake of norepinephrine. In addition to treating depression, SNRIs can also treat anxiety, ADHD, and OCD. Common SNRIs include Cymbalta (duloxetine), Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), and Effexor XR (venlafaxine). 
  • Tricyclics: These are older antidepressants that affect the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. They are rarely prescribed due to their adverse side effects. Doctors only prescribe tricyclics when other antidepressants prove ineffective. 
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: MAOIs are the oldest type of antidepressant. They block monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that breaks down dopamine, tryptamine, and norepinephrine. 
  • Noradrenaline and Specific Serotonergic Antidepressants (NaSSAs): NaSSAs work by blocking the reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin. This improves mood and can increase your teen’s energy levels. 

Combination Therapy

Combination therapy refers to the use of both medication and psychotherapy. It is one of the most effective ways of treating moderate to severe depression. This is because therapy helps teens confront their negative feelings while medication helps to improve their mood. According to studies, combination therapy has far superior mental health outcomes compared to monotherapy. 

Complementary and Emerging Treatments

Teen girls engaged in outdoor art therapy, illustrating complementary and emerging treatments for adolescent mental health.

Over the years, there has been an increase in the uptake of complementary treatments. These are treatments that can be used in conjunction with evidence-based therapies to help improve your teen’s mental health outcomes. Some common complementary treatments include the following: 

Art Therapy

Art therapy is a holistic approach that uses your teen’s visualization and creativity to tackle difficult emotions. It teaches your teen to express their emotions through art. Painting, drawing, and sculpting can induce calmness and improve overall mental health. Art therapy does not focus on the result. Instead, it focuses on the process of creation. This means that your teen should not be shy about trying out art therapy. They will get to have fun as they tackle negative emotions. 

Sound and Music Therapy

Sound healing and music therapies are complementary treatments that use sound waves to induce calm. They use uplifting sound waves to help your teen’s mood improve. 

Yoga Therapy

Yoga therapy is used in conjunction with meditation to help improve your teen’s mental health. It helps them connect with their emotions as they practice yoga techniques. 

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate your teen’s brain. TMS works by inducing changes in electrical activity within your teen’s brain through the use of magnets. These electrical changes can improve your teen’s mood. TMS is FDA-approved for treating depression and can be used to help teens with treatment-resistant depression. TMS should not be used as a first-line treatment for depression. 

Equine Therapy

Equine therapy is a form of animal therapy involving horses. It teaches teens to navigate complex emotions through petting or riding a horse. Horses are emotionally sensitive animals. This means teens need to be in tune with their feelings as they interact with these animals. 

Why Early and Effective Treatment Matters

Smiling teen boy and supportive woman pose playfully, symbolizing positive outcomes of early and effective mental health treatment.

If you suspect that your teen has depression, you should seek professional help immediately. This is because of the following reasons: 

  • Improved Mental Health Outcomes: Teens treated early often have improved mental health outcomes. The longer you wait to get your teen treated, the less likely they will be able to overcome depression. Like any other illness, the earlier depression is treated, the more favorable the prognosis. 
  • Reduced Severity: Untreated depression worsens over time. It is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. 
  • Mitigating the Risks of Untreated Depression: Depression in teenagers can have several risks. For example, depressed teens are more likely to engage in risky behavior, self-harm, and suicide. Early intervention prevents these complications. 
  • Improved Quality of Life: Effective treatment improves your teen’s quality of life. They can repair broken relationships and continue functioning properly in society. Their academic performance may also improve during treatment. 

Treating Adolescent Depression at Key Healthcare

Key Healthcare is Los Angeles’s premier adolescent treatment facility. It was founded with a mission to transform the lives of teens living with mental health conditions. At Key Healthcare, we offer tailored treatment approaches to ensure that all your teen’s treatment needs are met. We provide both outpatient and residential treatment for teen depression. The level of care your teen receives will depend on the severity of their depression. At Key Healthcare, we are committed to providing your teen with the most effective treatment option. We use evidence-based, pharmacological, and holistic approaches to ensure positive mental health outcomes. If your teen is struggling with depression, enroll them today by contacting Key Healthcare. You can also fill out our contact form or schedule a call. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Antidepressants are usually prescribed after initial attempts at psychotherapy. They are used as a second line of defense after psychotherapy has proved ineffective. However, for teens with severe depression, they may be used as first-line treatments. 

It is difficult to ascertain how long it takes for depression treatment to work. This is because of factors like severity, patient attitude, and willingness to receive help. However, improvement can be seen after a few sessions. 

Yes, teenagers can recover from depression without medication. This is because psychotherapy is usually the first-line treatment option. If your teen recovers from depression using psychotherapy, they may not need any medication.