Depression & Anxiety in Children
Children of parents with anxiety disorders are up to seven times more likely than others to develop anxiety problems themselves, research shows, and kids of depressed parents are also at high risk for becoming depressed.
Two new studies suggest that talking to a therapist can break the cycle and reduce the risk for mental health disorders in children and teens.
The studies focused on cognitive behavior therapy, which engourages patients to reframe their thinking so that they do not fall into a negative depressive mindset.
Most patients suffering from depression and anxiety say their problems started in their teenage years, which indicates that this is the best time to prevent such problems from developing.
Garber's study focused on high-risk teens whose parents had a history of depression. All 316 of the teens already had experienced depression in the past or had some symptoms of depression when the study began. Half were randomly assigned to attend eight weekly group sessions with other teenagers.
After nine months, teens who attended group therapy were less likely to have had an episode of depression than teens who had their usual care but didn't receive therapy, the study shows.
Although this study is telling, still few insurers pay for cognitive behavior therapy.
Do you think insurers should pay for cognitive behavior therapy?
Does this study reveal anything groundbreaking or is therapy already the most prominent form of depression and anxiety prevention?
What do you think?
Courtesy of USA TODAY: Depression, anxiety pass from parents to kids; therapy helps
Two new studies suggest that talking to a therapist can break the cycle and reduce the risk for mental health disorders in children and teens.
The studies focused on cognitive behavior therapy, which engourages patients to reframe their thinking so that they do not fall into a negative depressive mindset.
Most patients suffering from depression and anxiety say their problems started in their teenage years, which indicates that this is the best time to prevent such problems from developing.
Garber's study focused on high-risk teens whose parents had a history of depression. All 316 of the teens already had experienced depression in the past or had some symptoms of depression when the study began. Half were randomly assigned to attend eight weekly group sessions with other teenagers.
After nine months, teens who attended group therapy were less likely to have had an episode of depression than teens who had their usual care but didn't receive therapy, the study shows.
Although this study is telling, still few insurers pay for cognitive behavior therapy.
Do you think insurers should pay for cognitive behavior therapy?
Does this study reveal anything groundbreaking or is therapy already the most prominent form of depression and anxiety prevention?
What do you think?
Courtesy of USA TODAY: Depression, anxiety pass from parents to kids; therapy helps
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