Teen-agers prone to depression are five times less likely to develop the condition if they are involved in short-term group therapy, according to study released Thursday that included nearly 30 Clark County youths.
Depression is an illness that is on the rise and is striking younger people, said Greg Clarke, a clinical psychologist with Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research, who led the study. Most teen suicides are caused by depression, while suicide is the third- leading cause of death in young people.
Clarke's research involved 94 teens showing some early signs of depression who had at least one depressed parent.
The results make a good case for preventive care as well as identifying young people at risk, Clarke said.
"You don't need to wait until depression is overwhelming and very severe," he said.
The research started in 1994, with participants tracked for two years after they stopped going to the group therapy sessions. Of the 94 teens, 28 were from Clark County.
The 94 teens were divided into two groups. A control group of 49 received usual medical care that could or could not include mental health services. The remaining 45 participated in 15 hourlong group sessions that focused on reversing negative thoughts. The technique differs from more traditional therapy that works to identify the causes of mental illness, such as childhood trauma.
The study is one of the first that demonstrates how well prevention can work in dealing with teen depression. Clarke likened it to offering flu shots on a widespread basis to stem the disease.
"You don't stop an epidemic treating people one on one," Clarke said. The approach was effective, he said, because the young people were caught just before they started experiencing serious symptoms.
"They were a essentially a simmering pot," he said.
The dynamic of working with a group of peers is also very effective, Clarke said. The teens can relate to each other better than they would to an adult therapist.
The results weren't a surprise to Mary Anne Hannibal, the regional service network manager for Clark County's department of Community Services and Corrections.
"Group treatment can be very powerfully effective," she said. "It's not startling news but it provides good confirmation."
She estimated that between 420 and 560 teens received treatment for depression through the county in the last year.
Therapy groups are available through several local agencies, including Columbia River Mental Health, Hannibal said. Some employ the same techniques used in the study and offer referrals at an early stage, sometimes through the school districts.
Groups set up exactly like Clarke's aren't available through Kaiser Permanente, but similar groups are available at several teen clinics operated in Multnomah County, he said. The next step, Clarke said, would be to offer therapy groups to young people before they become seriously depressed.
"My advice to families with teens who show signs of being depressed is to take these signs seriously and get the child assessed by a school counselor, a community mental health counselor or the child's health care provider. Families in which one or both parents are depressed often tend to focus their attention on the depressed parent and to overlook their teen-aged children."
Warning signs of teen depression
While it can be difficult to distinguish normal teen-age ups and downs from depression, warning signs of a serious problem include the following:
. Lack of enjoyment from favorite activities.
. Feeling sad, down or irritable most of the time.
. Trouble with sleep or appetite.
. Trouble with concentration.
. Withdrawal from family and friends.
. Feelings of guilt.
. Low self-esteem.
. Thoughts of death or suicide.
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