Study Cites New Statistics for Rate of Depression Among Adolescent Girls

An annual average of 1.4 million adolescent girls age 12 to 17 experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The study also shows that adolescent girls ages 12 to 17 are three times more likely to have had a major depressive episode in the past year than their male counterparts (12 percent versus 4.5 percent).

A major depressive episode is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) developed by the American Psychiatric Association, which says a major depressive episode is when a person experiences a period of depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure for two weeks or longer, and while experiencing at least four other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning, such as difficulty with sleep, eating, energy, concentration and self-image. For more information, click here to read the full release.