Conquering Depression
Adapted from Medicine
at Michigan
What’s the best way to help depressed
teens?
As director of the U-M Child/Adolescent
Depression Program, Cheryl King, Ph.D.,
works with some of depression’s most
vulnerable victims. Adolescents with serious
depression are difficult to treat and often
struggle with suicidal thoughts. Other than
hospitalization, psychiatrists have few
options; no outpatient intervention has
been shown to be effective at preventing
these teens from attempting suicide.
“These are extremely ill young people,”
says King, an associate professor and chief
psychologist in the Medical School’s
Department of Psychiatry. “They have
serious social impairment and often feel
out of control. Many of these youth either
have no close relationships or constant
conflict in their relationships.”
King developed a new social network intervention
program called the Youth-Nominated
Support Team to supplement traditional
psychiatric treatment. Teens in the YST
program choose up to four adults to be their
support team. After being trained by U-M
mental health professionals, team members
have contact with the teen-ager once a week
to encourage treatment adherence and provide
support.
“Preliminary data show YST is effective
at reducing suicidal thoughts and emotional
distress, especially in girls,” King
says. “Now we are testing to see if
it improves teen-agers’ willingness
to adhere to other recommended treatments.”
Also:
Conquering
Depression
What
does stress do to your brain?
Can
primary care docs treat depression?
What
happens to when Mom is depressed?
How
do antidepressants work?
View
original article...
Last updated on:
Friday, 26-Jan-2007 15:00:08 EST
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