A recent study found that more than two million U.S. teenagers had a serious case of depression in the past year, with nearly three times more girls than boys having a serious depressive episode.

"They defined a major depressive episode as two weeks or longer of depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms such as problems with sleep, energy, concentration or self-image."

More than 67,000 young people responded to questions about mood and depression. Results of the study showed that 12.7 percent of girls and 4.6 percent of boys were affected by depression in the past year. Source: Reuters

Learn more at About Teen Depression.

Labels: depression, studies, teen_issues

A study from the University of Arizona reveals that the decisions teens make about whether to act aggressively in early adolescence influence their future behaviors as young adults. This is the first research that indicates decision-making and behavior are related over time.

Researchers asked 522 middle and high school students and their parents to complete questionnaires about aggressive behaviors such as fighting, lying, bullying, and stealing. When the teens were in grades 8 and then grade 11, they watched videos that presented situations in which they could choose to act aggressively. For example, in one scenario, a teen picks up an abandoned backpack and then someone picks a fight with him. The first teen has to decide whether to fight back.

The results of the study indicate that there is a link between antisocial conduct and judgments about aggressive behaviors in early, middle, and late adolescence, and that the way teens evaluate aggressive behaviors influences their own behaviors and decisions.

This study appears in the journal Child Development.

Labels: aggression, behavioral_issues, studies

A recent federal study has found that New Hampshire is one of ten states that ranked higher than the national average for instances of teen depression. While the national average is 8.8 percent, New Hampshire averaged between 9.4 and 10.4 percent along with Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Main, Nevada, Utah and Washington.

"Symptoms of a 'major depressive episode' include a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure for two weeks or longer, and changes in sleeping, eating, energy, concentration and self-image, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders."

Some mental health experts have questioned the study, but agree that teen depression is a national problem that can be difficult to understand. Read more at NashuaTelegraph.com.

Labels: depression, mental_health, studies