Depression in Youth

Witnessed over the past 20 years are major advances in knowledge regarding depression in children and adolescents. Although additional research is needed, clinicians can now turn to treatment strategies with demonstrated efficacy. In this article the authors review the literature on psychosocial interventions for depression in youth and offer a working model to guide the treatment of depressed youth. They begin with a brief overview of the model, followed by a review of the treatment efficacy and prevention literatures. They offer some caveats that impact the ability to move from this treatment literature to the real world of clinical practice. The authors conclude by considering how extant research can inform treatment decisions and highlight critical questions that need to be addressed through future research.