Advances in the prevalence and treatment of depression for adolescents: a review

BackgroundDepression is a psychological condition in adolescents caused by various factors. Many serious consequences can be associated with depression, such as irritability, emotional instability, and suicide. Meanwhile, the incidence of depression and suicide among adolescents was also affected du...

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Main Authors: Chunyu Yin, Mengting Xu, Zhiyuan Zong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1574574/full
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author Chunyu Yin
Mengting Xu
Zhiyuan Zong
author_facet Chunyu Yin
Mengting Xu
Zhiyuan Zong
author_sort Chunyu Yin
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundDepression is a psychological condition in adolescents caused by various factors. Many serious consequences can be associated with depression, such as irritability, emotional instability, and suicide. Meanwhile, the incidence of depression and suicide among adolescents was also affected during the pandemic of COVID-19 in 2019. This phenomenon of adolescent depression should be drawn extensive concern by the community, which affects their physical and mental health.Main bodyThis review describes the epidemiology, high-risk factors, and treatment of adolescent depression. The onset of depression is probably attributable to preterm birth, growth environment, genetic. We also identify that the COVID-19 pandemic, initiated in late 2019,affects adolescent mental health. Antidepressants and psychotherapy are conventional treatments for depressive disorders. However, it is controversial whether antidepressants are as effective and safer as psychotherapy, and a combination of the two could provide more benefit to this population than antidepressants alone. We also summarize some antidepressants developed for novel targets. Improving the efficacy and safety of treatment to reduce the suicide rate among adolescents is the primary goal of clinical research. Existing treatment modalities and drugs are not sufficient to achieve clinical demands, so that new therapeutic targets will be promising for such patients.ConclusionA variety of factors can contribute to depression in adolescents. Adolescent depression should be mainly treated with non-pharmacological. A combination of guideline-recommended antidepressants should be used if uncontrolled with non-pharmacological, but adverse drug reactions and suicidal ideation should be closely monitored.
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language English
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spelling doaj-art-5fda25bb356f477ea80f995de0fa07622025-08-20T02:57:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-05-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15745741574574Advances in the prevalence and treatment of depression for adolescents: a reviewChunyu Yin0Mengting Xu1Zhiyuan Zong2Department of Neonatal Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaSchool of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomBackgroundDepression is a psychological condition in adolescents caused by various factors. Many serious consequences can be associated with depression, such as irritability, emotional instability, and suicide. Meanwhile, the incidence of depression and suicide among adolescents was also affected during the pandemic of COVID-19 in 2019. This phenomenon of adolescent depression should be drawn extensive concern by the community, which affects their physical and mental health.Main bodyThis review describes the epidemiology, high-risk factors, and treatment of adolescent depression. The onset of depression is probably attributable to preterm birth, growth environment, genetic. We also identify that the COVID-19 pandemic, initiated in late 2019,affects adolescent mental health. Antidepressants and psychotherapy are conventional treatments for depressive disorders. However, it is controversial whether antidepressants are as effective and safer as psychotherapy, and a combination of the two could provide more benefit to this population than antidepressants alone. We also summarize some antidepressants developed for novel targets. Improving the efficacy and safety of treatment to reduce the suicide rate among adolescents is the primary goal of clinical research. Existing treatment modalities and drugs are not sufficient to achieve clinical demands, so that new therapeutic targets will be promising for such patients.ConclusionA variety of factors can contribute to depression in adolescents. Adolescent depression should be mainly treated with non-pharmacological. A combination of guideline-recommended antidepressants should be used if uncontrolled with non-pharmacological, but adverse drug reactions and suicidal ideation should be closely monitored.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1574574/fulladolescent depressionCOVID-19antidepressantsrisk factorspsychotherapy
spellingShingle Chunyu Yin
Mengting Xu
Zhiyuan Zong
Advances in the prevalence and treatment of depression for adolescents: a review
Frontiers in Pharmacology
adolescent depression
COVID-19
antidepressants
risk factors
psychotherapy
title Advances in the prevalence and treatment of depression for adolescents: a review
title_full Advances in the prevalence and treatment of depression for adolescents: a review
title_fullStr Advances in the prevalence and treatment of depression for adolescents: a review
title_full_unstemmed Advances in the prevalence and treatment of depression for adolescents: a review
title_short Advances in the prevalence and treatment of depression for adolescents: a review
title_sort advances in the prevalence and treatment of depression for adolescents a review
topic adolescent depression
COVID-19
antidepressants
risk factors
psychotherapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1574574/full
work_keys_str_mv AT chunyuyin advancesintheprevalenceandtreatmentofdepressionforadolescentsareview
AT mengtingxu advancesintheprevalenceandtreatmentofdepressionforadolescentsareview
AT zhiyuanzong advancesintheprevalenceandtreatmentofdepressionforadolescentsareview