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This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about how important it is that the things in children’s lives fit them properly. That doesn’t just apply to shoes and clothes. It also makes a difference in treating depression.
Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that switching to new treatments benefits teenagers with depression who aren’t responding to medication or other therapies. Often, a combination of medication and cognitive therapy gets positive results. Dr. Graham Emslie, a UT Southwestern child psychiatrist, says it’s important for teens with depression to not give up, and doctors should be open to switching treatments until they find something that works. A different medication or adding cognitive therapy to medication can make a big difference. Depression in teens is the same as in adults, so it’s important to identify it and treat it early.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/mentalhealth to learn more about
UT Southwestern’s clinical services in mental health.
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April 2008
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