At any one time, about one in 20 children suffer from clinical depression. Depression can lead to suicide, now the second leading cause of death among teenagers. Depression in teenagers also often persists into adulthood, and rates of recurrence of depression in adulthood occur in approximately 70 percent of all cases. Yet few of these youths receive treatment, and even fewer get appropriate care.

On National Childhood Depression Awareness at noon on May X, Dr. David Rosenberg, the Miriam L. Hamburger Endowed Chair for Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Research at Children's Hospital of Michigan and Wayne State University, will host a special lecture about depression in teens. The lecture, by Dr. John March, Duke University, will be held at Children's Hospital Of Michigan in the main auditorium on the first floor (Call 1-313-577-9000 for directions). The lecture is free and open to the public.

Dr. March, professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Duke University, is an internationally recognized leading expert in the assessment and treatment of adolescent depression and head of the National Institute of Mental Health's Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). This five-year research project is the largest study ever undertaken to determine the best treatments for teens with depression. It will evaluate psychosocial/family, behavioral and medication treatments.

"Depression in teens is a very serious health issue," Dr. Rosenberg said. "Without treatment, depression can lead to suicide, now the second leading cause of death among teenagers."

Some warning signs of depression in pre-teens and adolescents include a sudden drop in school performance, loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, irritability, expressions of fear or anxiety, aggression and antisocial behavior, use of alcohol or other drugs to self-medicate the depression, problems sleeping, change in appetite and weight, loss of energy and problems with concentration. This is different from "the blues" or feeling depressed after bombing an exam. These symptoms interfere with the teen's functioning and persist for at least two weeks.

The WSU Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences is one of 14 sites chosen to participate in the Treatment of Adolescents with Depression Study. Dr. Rosenberg is principal investigator at the WSU site.

For information about the National Childhood Depression Awareness Day lecture or about the study, call Jennifer Ivey at (810) 558-0674.

The department will also be offering free screening and information about Childhood Depression on May 8 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The screening will be held in the lobby of the Children's Hospital of Michigan.

Editors Note: Sponsored by the National Mental Health Association, Childhood Depression Awareness Day helps educate Americans that childhood depression is real, common and treatable.