Ways to Distinguish a Bad Mood from Depression in Teenagers

The teenage years are a time of emotional highs and lows, so it is often difficult to distinguish whether a child is in a bad mood or under depression.

Experts have come up with some ways to help in identifying and distinguishing mood swings and depression in adolescents.

Depressive symptoms often start appearing around age 13, and increases between 16 and 24 years of age. Yet depression can be difficult to diagnose in young people, because symptoms seldom involve mood alone.

Adolescent Depression - Causes - Affects - Depressed Teens - Treatment - FAQs
Adolescent depression is an ailment that occurs during the teenage characterized by persistent melancholy, disappointment and loss of self-esteem.

A new study showed that less than half of teen patients suffered from depressive symptoms and were more likely to experience mood swings including agitation, anxiety, attention difficulties, or defiant behaviors.

Dr. Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter suggested that severity of changes in mood, behaviours, feelings and thoughts would help in distinguishing the two. The more pronounced the symptoms are the more likely that the problem is depression and not a passing mood.

Any deterioration in behaviour or mood that lasts two weeks or longer, without a break may indicate depression.

Depression - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.

Moreover, problems in several areas of a teen's functioning at home, in school, and in interactions with friends may also indicate depression.

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