Clinician Administered Treatment Resources

Psychotherapy

According to Division 53 of the American Psychological Association several specific forms of short-term psychotherapy have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of depression in children and teens. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be probably effective for both children and teenagers. CBT is designed to help depressed youth change their negative thoughts (cognitions) and behaviors. Children and teens learn about depression and about the ways that their moods are tied to their thinking and their actions, and learn coping skills (e.g., communication, problem-solving, anger-management, relaxation, and social skills). For depressed teenagers, interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a well-established treatment. IPT helps teens understand and address problems in their relationships with family members and friends that contribute to depression. More

Adolescent Coping With Depression Course
The CWD-A course was designed as a psychoeducational group or small seminar, teaching adolescent techniques and strategies to cope with the problems that are assumed to be related to their depression. These strategies include improving social, basic communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills, as well as addressing depressogenic thinking, increasing pleasant activities, and relaxation training. A parallel course for the parents of depressed adolescents has been developed. Download manuals

Therapy Advisor
This site offers information about empirically supported treatments for pediatric depression. Providers are required to register to view online resources.

Pharmacotherapy

Some medications (specifically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs) may help relieve youth depressive symptoms, especially for teens. According to the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the use of antidepressants seems indicated with children and adolescents who have such severe symptoms that psychotherapy is not effective, who have tried psychotherapy and it has not worked, or who have long-lasting or a recurrent form of depression. SSRIs are the initial antidepressants of choice.1 The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends that psychiatric medications should not be used alone, and should only be one part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

The United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA) directed manufacturers of antidepressants to revise their labeling to include a "black box" warning to alert health-care providers to an increased risk of suicidality in children and teens. More

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Work Group on Research notes that, while the warnings are reasonable, some of their aspects and the practical suggestions are more strongly supported by research than others. More

TRICARE Pharmacy Information

¹American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1998). Practice parameters for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with depressive disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37(10suppl).

Suicide and Children/Adolescents

There are no specific treatments for suicidal thinking or behaviors. In general, psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy can be effective for treating specific psychiatric disorders that are associated with suicidal behaviors. Visit other provider resources offered on this site to learn more about treatment for specific disorders. In general, therapeutic approaches should target specific Axis I and Axis II psychiatric disorders or the predominant stressor.

Resources for Primary Care Providers

Screening for Depression Across the Lifespan: A Review of Measures for Use in Primary Care Settings

Suicide and Suicide Attempts in Adolescents