Summary: Is your child on prescription drugs for depression? Are you aware of all the potential benefits and/or side effects?As many as one in 13 adolescents experience symptoms of depression at some time. These symptoms may be hard for parents to recognize; but when normal sadness turns into despair and persists for weeks and even months, it can be a sign of this worrisome emotional disorder. Depression is a syndrome in which an individual feels discouraged, hopeless, miserable, and despondent. It can occur at any age. When a child has depression, there are things parents can do to help. Encouraging healthy habits, considering the environment, educating the family, helping your child develop cognitive, coping and problem-solving skills, rehearsing good behavior and social skills, and creating a safety and emergency plan can all be extremely helpful in alleviating some of the symptoms and preventing the situation from becoming deadly. Sometimes these tactics can only go so far, however, and at that point you may need to enlist the aid of prescription medications. Dr. Linda Reid-Chassiakos joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the different medications available for depression in children and teens. Dr. Reid-Chassiakos goes over their benefits and possible side effects so you, as a parent, can make a more informed decision on the best ways to help your child.
