What’s the best way to help depressed teens?
Cheryl King
Photo:
Martin Vloet |
As director of the U-M Child/Adolescent Depression Program,
Cheryl King, Ph.D., works with some of depression’s most
vulnerable victims. Adolescents with serious depression are
difficult to treat and often struggle with suicidal thoughts.
Other than hospitalization, psychiatrists have few options;
no outpatient intervention has been shown to be effective at
preventing these teens from attempting suicide.
“These are extremely ill young people,” says King,
an associate professor and chief psychologist in the Medical
School’s Department of Psychiatry. “They have serious
social impairment and often feel out of control. Many of these
youth either have no close relationships or constant conflict
in their relationships.”
King developed a new social network intervention program called
the Youth-Nominated Support Team to supplement traditional psychiatric
treatment. Teens in the YST program choose up to four adults
to be their support team. After being trained by U-M mental
health professionals, team members have contact with the teen-ager
once a week to encourage treatment adherence and provide support.
“Preliminary data show YST is effective at reducing suicidal
thoughts and emotional distress, especially in girls,”
King says. “Now we are testing to see if it improves teen-agers’
willingness to adhere to other recommended treatments.”
Also:
Conquering
Depression
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does stress do to your brain?
Can
primary care docs treat depression?
What
happens to when Mom is depressed?
How
do antidepressants work?
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