Depression in adolescent girls: screening and treatment strategies for primary care providers.

Abstract

Adolescent girls are at a higher risk of depression than boys are. Depression is of particular concern in pregnant and postpartum adolescents because of the potential impact on the infant. Primary care providers (PCPs) should routinely screen adolescent girls for depression and consider depression in their differential diagnoses of somatic complaints. Both medications and psychotherapy are effective treatments for depression in adolescents. Interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive therapy are both effective. PCPs have additional obligations to understand the possible barriers to adolescent use of mental health services in the community and to use available resources to advocate for appropriate health care for adolescents.