Teens who recover from depression may relapse within five years

By Staff Writer

A recent study reveals that about half of adolescents who appear to have recovered from depression may relapse within five years.

Duke University researchers studied 196 teenagers who had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder over a five-year stretch. Almost all of the participants experienced a recovery from their symptoms at some point, but 47 percent of the patients saw their depression return, according to data published in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.

Girls were more likely than boys to relapse into a depressive state, researchers found. Approximately 57 percent of female participants experienced recurring symptoms of the emotional disorder, compared to 33 percent of boys.

Furthermore, teens who suffered from anxiety were more likely than anxiety-free adolescents to regress back to depression. On average, it took about two years for the symptoms to return.

The study says that individuals with major depressive disorder typically have multiple symptoms, including feelings of worthlessness, changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, lack of energy and thoughts of suicide.

According to PBS, approximately 4 percent of adolescents develop serious depression each year.