A 12 page research paper that summarizes and analyzes research literature. This examination of research literature on the treatment of adolescent depression looks at studies that features CBT or IT psychotherapies, antidepressant medication and also studies that combine these approaches in order to determine in order to compare treatment outcomes. Bibliography lists 13 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: D0_khcbtitm.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
2006). These young people experience increased problems due to depression that negatively impacts their "family, social and academic functioning" (Melvin, et al, 2006, p. 1151). Many of these teens
are at elevated risk for self-harm and possible suicide. The substantial morbidity of depression includes not only suicide attempts, but also "school dropout and substance abuse" (Mufson, et al, 2004,
p. 577). Effective intervention is crucial in healthcare practitioners aiding these young people, but there is considerable debate as to what model of treatment such intervention should pursue. In
order to determine the best modes of treatment, healthcare practitioners turn to research, but, even here, there are difficulties. For example, Fost argues that research on children and adolescents with
mood disorders raises ethical issues in and of itself. In general, Fost (2001) offers this guidance, which is that research involving minors with mood disorders should "generally offer a
reasonable prospect of benefit to all those involved" (Fost, 2001, p. 1021). Nevertheless, the question remains as to what treatment modality is most appropriate for treating adolescent depression. Olfson,
et al (2002) report that between 1987 and 1997, the proportion of patients being treated for depression with antidepressant medications increased, but the proportion of depression patients being treated with
psychotherapy declined. Psychotherapy is often an expensive and prolonged process, which is why Olfson, et al, posit that increase in pharmacological treatments for depression is due to the expansion of
managed care, as well as the development of "better-tolerated antidepressants" (Olfson, et al, 2002, p. 203). This does not indicate, however, that antidepressants should be the preferred treatment
for treating depression in adolescents. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conducted hearings on the use of psychoactive medication in treating adolescent depression and subsequently issued