Teenage Depression Could Easily Relapse, Study Says

Teenage depression may come back later, says a new study, which found that teens treated for major depression recovered initially but relapsed later. (Photos.com)

Teenage depression may come back later, says a new study, which found that teens treated for major depression recovered initially but relapsed later, according to researchers this week.

The study evaluated teens who were treated with therapy as well as with medications.

Researchers headed by John Curry of Duke University evaluated 86 depressed boys and 110 depressed girls, aged 12 to 17.

They were given short-term treatments including Prozac, cognitive behavioral therapy, placebo, or a combination. The teens were followed for as many as five years.

With initial treatment, the teens saw a 96 percent recovery rate. However, half relapsed and had a another episode of major depression within the subsequent five years. Of the 189 who recovered, 47 percent became depressed again.

“We need to learn why females in this age range have higher chances of descending into another major depression after they have made a recovery,” Curry said, according to Reuters, in a statement. His study appears in the latest edition of Archives of Adolescent Psychiatry.

Females had a 57 percent chance of having a relapse compared with only 33 percent of males, the study found.

Curry said it is not clear why more teen girls relapse compared with teen boys.

“Further research needs to be done to confirm our findings and to sort out the variables that may be associated with recurrent major depression in young women,” Curry stated.