Depression in Adolescent

Is your teen constantly withdrawn and easily upset? Do you feel like you don’t know what’s going on with them because they don’t talk? You wonder if your teenager might be depressed. They might not be but it would be important to know for sure.

Depression in youth is a serious issue. Major depressive disorder typically begins around the mid-teen years. Approximately 10% of 11 to 16-year-olds have emotional disorders, and this number increases to 15% by the age of 17 to 19.

We have witnessed a rising rate of depression among teenagers. Isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the increased presence of social media have played large roles in the rise of teenage depression. Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the number of adolescents with depression has increased by 1.5 to 2 times.

The First step is assessment

In order to understand what’s happening with your teen, a professional will assess the situation through various means. This may involve a psychiatric evaluation, questionnaires and, if necessary, psychological testing.

Next step is treatment

At BrainBloom Neurotherapy Center, we have different treatment modalities. Whether they need talk therapy, medication, or TMS, our lead doctor will pick the best treatment option for your child depending on the results of their psychological assessment. Our newest option, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, is a drug-free treatment that has been FDA-approved for adolescents ages 15+ and can be the first-line of treatment for adolescents ages 15-17.

At Brainbloom Neurotherapy Center we offer TMS treatments under the care of Ehsan Habibpour, MD a board certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.