Depression and Suicide in Children and Adolescents

• Depression is underrecognized and undertreated, leading to worse long-term outcomes for many affected adolescents. • Based on strong research evidence, adolescents ages 12 through 18 years should be screened for depression when further assessment and treatment can be assured. (6) • The diagnosis of depression is derived from a developmentally appropriate clinical interview of the patient and corroborative information solicited from parents and teachers. • Active support and monitoring may be an appropriate initial management strategy for mild depression. • Based on some research evidence as well as consensus, a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy is more effective than either treatment modality alone. • Although universal systematic screening for suicidality is not supported by current evidence, all adolescents with known risk factors for suicide should be screened proactively. • Based on some evidence, safety plans have been shown to help prevent suicidal behaviors but safety contracts have not. © 2015, American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved.