How to tell between adult and teen depression

Whether you are 13 or 30, anyone can be affected by depression. — Dreamstime/TNS

Clinical depression is a mood disorder than can affect anyone and at any age.

The signs and symptoms, however, are not the same for everyone.

Dr Marcie Billings, a Mayo Clinic paediatrician says there are some differences between adult depression and teen depression.

A mental health issue can be treated, but first, it needs to be diagnosed.

Whether you are 13 or 30, anyone can be affected by depression.

“It’s a very real diagnosis, and it’s different in adults and kids,” says Dr Billings.

A typical adult symptom may include the classic depressed mood.

“In a child or adolescent, you might see more irritability, cranky behaviour or isolative behaviour,” points out Dr Billings.

The challenge is that it can also be typical teen behaviour.

Dr Billings says it’s the change in their normal behaviour that is one of the tell-tale signs and can be concerning.

“They used to want to hang out with friends – now they’re not.

“Their grades are suffering. They’re struggling to get done what they normally do every day.

“Or, they’re tired all the time. They can have sleep problems. They can have eating problems,” she says.

Weight loss in adults is a common sign of depression but in kids, it’s the opposite.

Dr Billings says: “You might see that they’re not gaining weight appropriately. Or they may be gaining excess weight.”

The good news is that there are treatment options for adults and for kids.

A good place to start is talking with your primary care provider.

“We can treat adolescent depression extremely well,” says Dr Billings. – Mayo Clinic News Network/TNS