Clinical Programs

The Depression Center's clinical programs build upon a long tradition of excellence. The Clinical Studies Unit for Mood Disorders, established in 1976 by Drs. Bernard Carroll and John Greden at the University of Michigan, was the first of its kind in the country. Today, the Depression Center provides a continuum of clinical care that helps patients successfully manage and control their depression by bringing together experienced depression clinicians and researchers campus-wide to ensure the most comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Because the Center participates in clinical trials, patients also benefit from new treatment innovations as soon as they become available.

Specialized team approach

Seeking mental health treatment for depression is an important first step toward improving overall health and well-being. Taking care of yourself means attending to both physical and emotional needs. Depression treatment is effective in the majority of sufferers. Sadly, many people do not get the treatment they need. Fear of stigma may play a role. Many people hope they will "snap out of it" or are concerned they have a character flaw because they are depressed. Depression is a complicated illness caused by numerous factors, including a family predisposition to the illness and stressful life events. Within the last decade, a better understanding of the illness has lead to improvements in treatment.

Patients receive treatment and counseling from a team of experts - often including a physician, nurse, psychologist, social worker, and other support professionals. One or two members of this team evaluate patients and a larger multidisciplinary team develops an individualized treatment plan. The team may include specialists in medication treatment, family treatments, marital and relationship issues, grief and loss, trauma and sexual abuse, adolescence, aging, depression related to childbearing, menopause, men's health, and work-related issues.

The Depression Center offers research-based clinical services through its Adult Depression Program, Child and Adolescent Depression Program, Family Services, and educational programs. To learn more about these programs follow the links to the right: Family Services, Child and Adolescent Services.

Meet Your Health Care Teams:

Depression Center Collaborative Team
Primary Care Depression Team
Women's Perinatal Depression Team
Child & Adolescent Depression Team

Family Services
Helping families form partnerships in treatment

Depression has a profound impact on family members and other people in the depressed person's life. Depressive episodes can be triggered by stressful events (i.e. unemployment, school or work failures, financial worries, illness, death of loved ones, relationship problems, divorce). Some depressed people show less noticeable signs and symptoms for months before they are officially diagnosed and treated. This can be difficult for everyone in the family. Some depressed people withdraw and isolate themselves. Some people start to drink heavily or use drugs. Some become irritable, moody and have angry, eruptive outbursts. These behavioral changes can be confusing for family members who don't know the reason for the change - family members may become angry with each other and family problems may get worse. Research studies show that marital problems can not only bring on depressive episodes but that ongoing marital conflict can slow down recovery from depression. Family conflict can trigger depression in children and adolescents. This can complicate their recovery as well. However, research also shows that responding to the families need for education, support, and guidance is not only helpful to them but to the patient's recovery as well.

The U-M Depression Center helps families form partnerships in treatment through a variety of ongoing family services. Family members are encouraged to attend the first appointment to share their valuable view with the treatment team. Family members of children and adolescents being evaluated for depression are an essential and integrated part of their child's treatment.

Depression Center staff meet with family members to identify their concerns and gather important history. This information allows the team to begin to determine the needs for continuing services. If there are specific family relationship problems or concerns about other family members, ongoing therapy is available and additional referrals can be made for group, marital, family or individual treatment. There are also opportunities for family members to learn coping strategies and healthful ways of interacting with one another. Our goal is to make certain that families are involved and that important concerns are addressed when they arise.

Educational materials are available from the FRIENDS Depression Education & Resource Center (FDERC) to all patients and their families. We also connect you with local and national support and advocacy groups. In addition, families are encouraged to attend Family Education Workshops. This is an opportunity for families to learn from experts and to ask questions. The workshops highlight what is known about depression, how it relates to age, and current treatments. Workshops are scheduled through out the year.

We welcome your questions, feedback, and suggestions as we strive to effectively respond to the needs of families. We are glad you have taken this first step.

Depression Center Family Services: 734-764-0267

Child and Adolescent Depression Program

The Child and Adolescent Depression Program has a highly integrated clinical, research, and training mission. The clinical team is staffed with child psychiatrists, child psychologists, social workers, and nurses, all of whom specialize in the evaluation and treatment of depression and related illnesses. In addition to providing clinical services, we conduct research to learn more about early age depression and to develop effective treatments. We also provide training for the next generation of mental health professionals specializing in the recognition, assessment, and treatment of youth depression.

Youth Depression
Children and adolescents of all ages struggle with depression. The rates rise sharply across the adolescent years. As many as 5% of all adolescents suffer from serious depression at any one point in time. Approximately 20% of adolescents will suffer from a depression by the time they enter adulthood. There is no gender-related difference in the rates of depression among elementary-age children. However, there is a noticeable increase in the rate of depression among girls when puberty begins. Many youth with depression may have other difficulties, such as social anxiety, disruptive behaviors, or poor academic performance. These can often be treated or addressed at the same time as the depression.

Knowing the symptoms of depression and making an appointment with a health care provider are important first steps. A professional evaluation helps everyone concerned understand depression and its symptoms. The health care provider will seek to understand the child's developmental history, their current life situation, as well as their strengths and weaknesses in social and academic areas. The treatment team uses this information to determine the most comprehensive diagnosis and treatment possible.

Safe and effective treatments are available and often include a combination of therapy and medication. Mild depression may be treated with therapy alone. Treatments are aimed at (a) decreasing the frequency and level of depressive symptoms; (b) decreasing the negative impact that depression can have on functions in home, school, and peer group settings; and (c) improving the quality of life for the child and their family. Some youth may continue to have depression during their adult lives. However, it's usually possible to treat when diagnosed early on.

How We Treat Depression
The Child and Adolescent Depression Program provides family-centered, multidisciplinary care that is based on evidence found in research. Each child's social and developmental situation is evaluated since preschool children, elementary age children, young adolescents, and older adolescent all have different needs. Because families, schools, and peers are important the Center emphasizes patient and family education. We encourage families to visit the FRIENDS Depression Education and Resource Center as often as desired to help them gain a better understanding of depression. It is located in Room 3982 of the Taubman Center. The Center also offers monthly Family Education workshops through its Family Services program. The program works with families to encourage partnerships in treatment, learn coping strategies, help make decisions and to develop healthful ways of interacting with one another.

Useful Links:
Child & Adolescent Team
Department of Psychiatry Child and Adolescent Division

Last updated on: Thursday, 02-Feb-2006 07:43:14 EST