Active support and monitoring may be sufficient for mild, self-limited depression. If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment should be initiated for persistent, moderate, and severe depression. Screening for depression in adolescents 12 years and older should be conducted annually using a validated instrument, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9: Modified for Teens.
In 2016, approximately 5% of 12-year-olds and 17% of 17-year-olds reported experiencing a major depressive episode in the previous 12 months. The prevalence of major unipolar depression in children and adolescents is increasing in the United States.
