THE COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT OF DEP RESSION IN ADOLESCENTS - RESEARCH AND SUGGESTION

Although it is often unrecognized and untreated, adolescent depression is common and has a serious impact on functioning. The pattern of psy chosocial difficulties associated with adolescent depression is simila r to that seen with depressed adults. In this article we present what we have learned about the epidemiology and treatment of depression in adolescents (ages 14 years to 18 years). We describe a cognitive-behav ioral intervention, the Adolescent Coping With Depression (CWD-A) cour se, which has been shown to be an effective, nonstigmatizing, and cost -efficient treatment for adolescent depression. Ways of implementing t his intervention in clinical settings are described.