Episode 3- Depression in Teens
What is the impact of depression on school aged teens?
GP, Dr Bianca Forrester, continues the conversation with Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist A/Prof Sandra Radovini about mental health problems in teens. In this episode Bianca and Sandra explore the role of the GP in assessing and managing depression in practice. “What predisposes adolescents to depression”? In seeking to understand the young persons experiences in context, for anxiety she poses the question “What are the pressures”? With depression as a presenting problem she poses a different question….tune in to find out.
Link to podcast: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=466509
SSRIs- We discuss the indications, effects, benefits associated with SSRIs. Check out these resources for more information.
- About SSRIs in GP - https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2013/september/ssris-and-adolescents/
- About SSRIs in adolescents - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4791100/
- About optimal doses - https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(19)30217-2/fulltext
For more information about Assessment and management of Depression check out these reources.
- Orygen -National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
- Treating Depression in young people.
Other recommended Guidelines
Simply input: Depression in Children and Young People
Great interactive guidelines by NICE Guidance
Exerpt from NICE guidelines regarding Brief Psychological Intervetions (BPI)
This intervention is based on the brief psychosocial intervention (BPI) carried out in the IMPACT trial (Goodyer et al. 2017)1.
Core components of BPI include:
- psychoeducation about depression and action-oriented, goal-focused, interpersonal activities as therapeutic strategies
- building health habits,
- planning and scheduling valued activities
- advice on maintaining and improving mental and physical hygiene including sleep, diet and exercise
- promoting engagement with and maintaining school work and peer relations, and diminishing solitariness.
BPI does not involve cognitive or reflective analytic techniques.
1 Goodyer IM, Reynolds S, Barrett B et al. (2017) Cognitive-behavioural therapy and short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy versus brief psychosocial intervention in adolescents with unipolar major depression (IMPACT): a multicentre, pragmatic, observer-blind, randomised controlled trial. Health technology assessment 21(12), 1–94.
Finally, for patient resources and education: https://headtohealth.gov.au provides good patient information, advice and digital health options.
Thanks for listening. Subscribe and please get in touch at gp-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au to send feedback, questions and ideas about future episodes.
This Podcast was recorded at the PodHub on the 30th May, 2019
- Presented by: Bianca Forrester
- Produced by: Bianca Forrester
- Audio Engineering: Chris Hatzis
- Post-Production: Arch Cuthbertson
- Music: Space Cadet Lullabies
- Graphics: Gaal Creative
The Maze Phase is a production of the University of Melbourne, Australia. The Maze Phase is licenced under Creative Commons, Copyright 2017, the University of Melbourne.