Researcher develops method for preventing depression in teens
Depression can be difficult to overcome, even with a prescription to buy Paxil. However, one expert is working to improve the ability of young people to handle their emotions and avoid letting depression become a part of their everyday lives.
Depression can be difficult to overcome, even with a prescription to buy Paxil. However, one expert is working to improve the ability of young people to handle their emotions and avoid letting depression become a part of their everyday lives. Dr. Benjamin Van Voorhees told the Chicago Tribune that he is working on a system that would act as a vaccination against depression. I seeks to identify individuals who are at risk for developing mood problems and connects these young people to a program that combines standard counseling with internet-based educational sessions. "Right now most [medical professionals] only treat mental illness," he told the news source. "We're trying to develop a type of behavioral vaccine that functions the same way vaccines work in fighting infections. You stop it before it starts. We hope this approach will be simple, culturally acceptable, universally deployable - and inexpensive." About 13 percent of teenagers experience depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Given the high prevalence of the problem and the degree to which depression can interfere with a person's life, there is a great need for identifying those at risk. |
