al depression include marked changes in mood and associated behaviors that range from sadness, withdrawal, and decreased energy to intense feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts. Depression is often described as an exaggeration of the duration and intensity of "normal" mood changes (Brown 204). Key indicators of adolescent depression include a drastic change in eating and sleeping patterns, significant loss of interest in previous activity interests (Blackman, 106) constant boredom (Blackman106), disruptive behavior, peer problems, increased irritability and aggression. Some doctors propose that "formal psychological testing may be helpful in complicated presentations that do not lend themselves easily to diagnosis." For many teens, symptoms of depression are directly related to low self-esteem from increased emphasis on being popular. For other teens, some ways to become depressed from poor family relations, which could include decreased family support and perceived rejection by parents. Professionals stated that "when parents are struggling over marital or career problems, or are ill themselves, teens may feel the tension and try to distract their parents (Oster & Montgomery 126). This "distraction" could include increased disruptive behavior, self-inflicted isolation and even verbal threats of suicide. So how can the physician determine when a patient should be diagnosed as depressed or suicidal? It is suggested the best way to diagnose is to "screen out the vulnerable groups of children and adolescents for the risk factors of suicide and then refer them for treatment (Brown 221). " Some of these "risk factors" include verbal signs of suicide within the last three months, prior attempts at suicide, indication of severe mood problems, or excessive alcohol and substance abuse. Many physicians tend to think of depression as an illness of adulthood. In fact, Brown stated that "it was only in the 1980's that mood disorders in chi...
