if you have questions or concerns discuss them with your health care provider. treatment options for children with depression are similar to those for adults including psychotherapy (counseling) and medication. the role that family and the child's environment play in the treatment process is different from that of adults. your child's doctor may suggest psychotherapy first and consider antidepressant medicine as an additional option if there is no significant improvement. the best studies to date indicate that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is most effective. however studies do show that the antidepressant prozac is effective in treating depression in children and teens. the drug is officially recognized by the fda for treatment of children 8-18 with depression. treating children with bipolar disorder children with bipolar disorder are usually treated with psychotherapy and a combination of medicines usually an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer. use of an antidepressant alone can trigger bouts of manic and hyperactive behavior. the fda has determined that antidepressant medications increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders. if you have questions or concerns discuss them with your health care provider.
what are the treatment options for children with depression?