A review for school nursing professionals: adolescent depression

Abstract

Adolescent depression occurs within various developmental, social, and biologic contexts, and is manifested by traditional depressive symptoms such as fatigue, loss of interest in daily activities, weight changes, sleep disturbances, sad moods, difficulty with concentration, behavioral agitation or lethargy, feelings of worthlessness, and recurrent thoughts of death. Depressed adolescents may combine these symptoms with certain additional behaviors such as academic deterioration, substance abuse, sexual activity, somatic complaints, eating disorders, conduct disorders, and other risk-taking behaviors. School nurses can play a central role in the prevention, assessment, referral, and follow-up care of this significant adolescent health problem.