Resources for Clinicians for the Treatment of Depression in Children & Adolescents

Treatment Manuals

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents

Training and Continuing Education

Online Courses
APA CE Webinar

Exploring the APA Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Depression Across Three Age Cohorts opens in new window

Join experts for a 75-minute webinar that takes an in-depth look at the recommendations for each of the three age groups: children and adolescents, adults, and older adults. Presenters will discuss the process for developing the guideline and will answer frequently asked questions about what the guideline does and doesn’t cover.

ACTION: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Depressed Youth and Their Parents opens in new window

Kevin Stark, PhD, discusses how to use affective education, coping skills training, problem solving training, cognitive restructuring and building of more positive core beliefs to treat depression in children and adolescents. He also suggests ways to flexibly use the primary and secondary treatment ingredients of ACTION to successfully treat depressed youth. He then demonstrates how to conceptualize a depressive disorder in a child and subsequently develop an effective treatment plan. Lastly, he reviews the components of the ACTION Parent Training Program 

Evidence-Based Treatment of Depression in Adolescents opens in new window

In this overview, John Curry, PhD, ABPP, provides a description of the components common to evidence-based treatments for depression in adolescents. He also describes the acute and long-term effects of treatment for depression, and lastly, he provides an overview of the results from the largest clinical trials of youth depression. 

Evidence-Based Medication Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Young People opens in new window

Gabrielle Carlson, MD, provides an overview of the medications available for anxiety and depressive disorders in children. In addition, she summarizes the results of the largest clinical trials for these medications. 

Evidence-Based Treatment for Depression in Adolescence: Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies opens in new window

John Curry, PhD, ABPP, reviews cognitive behavioral strategies that were used in the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study session by session. He describes key points about each session and demonstrates techniques using role-play and videos. Techniques demonstrated include providing psychoeducation about depression, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, modifications for families and more. 

Principles and Techniques of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescent (IPT-A) Depression opens in new window

Laura Mufson, PhD, and Jami Young, PhD, describe the integral techniques of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents. In addition, they provide the research and theoretical background supporting the use of IPT-A. Lastly, they demonstrate the core components of IPT-A through role-plays and demonstrations. 

Other Training and Professional Organizations

Article-Based Exam

APA Offers New Guidance for Treating Depression

This article discusses the APA Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Depression, including the criteria, recommendations, and rationale associated with the panel’s evidence-based decisions.
Professional Organization

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)

AACAP is a national organization whose mission is to promote the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families and to serve as a resource for clinicians in child and adolescent psychiatry.
Professional Organization

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)

ABCT is an organization committed to enhancing health and well-being by applying behavioral, cognitive, and biological evidence-based principles.
Training Provider

Beck Institute for Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

The Beck Institute is an international source for training, therapy, and resources in cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Training Provider

Evidence-Based Behavioral Practice (EBBP)

EBBP project provides professional training materials and works to promote evidence-based behavioral interventions.
Training Provider

International Society for Interpersonal Psychotherapy (ISIPT)

ISIPT is an international, multidisciplinary organization whose mission is to advance interpersonal psychotherapy through scientific research, training and dissemination.
Training Provider

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Institute

The IPT Institute is an international organization dedicated to interpersonal psychotherapy research, training, and certification.
Brochure

Developing Adolescents: A Reference for Professionals opens in new window

This APA brochure provides information about adolescents’ emotional, social and behavioral development.

Case Examples

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

A 15-year-old Puerto Rican female

The adolescent was previously diagnosed with major depressive disorder and treated intermittently with supportive psychotherapy and antidepressants. Her more recent episodes related to her parents’ marital problems and her academic/social difficulties at school. She was treated using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Chafey, M.I.J., Bernal, G. & Rosselló, J. (2009). Clinical case study: CBT for depression in a Puerto Rican adolescent: Challenges and variability in treatment response. Depression and Anxiety, 26(1), 98-103. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20457
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents

Sam, a 15-year-old high school student

Sam was team captain of his soccer team, but an unexpected fight with another teammate prompted his parents to meet with a clinical psychologist. Sam was diagnosed with major depressive disorder after showing an increase in symptoms over the previous three months. Several recent challenges in his family and romantic life led the therapist to recommend interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents (IPT-A).

Hall, E.B., & Mufson, L. (2009). Interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A): A case illustration. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 38(4), 582-593. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374410902976338

Books and Videos

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Information for Parents/Guardians

On Preventing Suicide
Brochure

Talking to Teens: Suicide Prevention opens in new window

This APA fact sheet provides information on recognizing warning signs and preventing suicide in teens.
Podcast

Speaking of Psychology: Preventing Suicide

In this episode, Nadine Kaslow, PhD, discusses the increase in rates of suicide and ways to prevent suicide.
Podcast

Speaking of Psychology: Suicide Prevention, with Jill Harkavy-Friedman, PhD

In this episode, Jill Harkavy-Friedman, PhD, the vice president of research for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, discusses what may be behind this rise, how psychologists and other researchers are developing interventions to help those at risk, and what you can do if you’re worried about someone in your life. 

Resources from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Suicide Prevention in Children and Adolescents

On Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Self-help Book

Raising a Moody Child: How to Cope with Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Written by Mary A. Fristad, PhD, ABPP, and Jill S. Goldberg-Arnold, PhD, this book for parents/guardians provides an overview of treatments and strategies in managing symptoms of mood disorders in children and adolescents.
Fact Sheet

AACAP: Depression in Children and Teens

Published by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, this fact sheet offers information about depression in children and teens.
Fact Sheet

Depression in Children and Teens

Published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, this fact sheet offers information about depression in children and teens and additional resources. 
YouTube

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Depression

A video from APA’s Help Center provides an overview for the public on the signs and symptoms of depression.
YouTube

Parent Video: Treating Depression in Youth

Anne Marie Albano, PhD, ABPP, discusses depression in youth and evidence-based treatments for depression. Albano is a board-certified clinical child and adolescent psychologist and professor of medical psychology (in psychiatry) at the Columbia University Medical Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons and the director of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Columbus Circle in New York City.
On Medication and Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents
Brochure

Talking with your Child’s Pediatrician About Behavioral Problems and Medication

This brochure provides an overview of questions to ask your child’s healthcare provider on the treatment of behavioral problems with medication.
Brochure

Therapy or Medication?

Written by APA Division 53 (Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology), this brochure guides parents in deciding whether therapy, medication, or both might be helpful for their child/adolescent.
Website

Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS)

This website provides more information on the NIMH-funded study that examined the effectiveness of antidepressant medications and psychotherapy alone or a combined treatment approach for the treatment of depression in adolescents.
Website

AACAP: Depression Resource Center

This resource center from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry provides more information on the treatment of depression in children and adolescents.
Fact Sheet

Division 53: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

A fact sheet from APA Division 53 (Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology) describes the types of cognitive-behavioral therapy used to treat depression in children and adolescents.
Fact Sheet

Division 53: Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Developed by APA Division 53 (Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology), this fact sheet offers information on interpersonal psychotherapy for the treatment of depression in children adolescents.
Fact Sheet

About Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A)

This fact sheet provides information on the components of IPT-A for adolescents with depression.
Website

Locate a Child/Adolescent Therapist Near You

APA Division 53 (Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology) developed this guide for parents and families who are searching for a mental health care provider.

Divisions of APA

Become a part of a community that shares your professional interests.

Div. 53

Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology

Div. 53's website provides additional information on treating children and adolescents with depression.

National Organizations

Active Minds

Active Minds is a nonprofit organization dedicated to destigmatizing mental illness in youth and improving conversations about mental health across college campuses nationwide.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is an organization committed to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide through research, advocacy and education.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)

ADAA’s mission is to improve the lives of people of all ages with anxiety, depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma-related disorders through education, practice and research.

Center for Children and Families — Florida International University opens in new window

The Center for Children and Families at Florida International University is a clinical research center dedicated to improving the lives of children and families struggling with mental health problems. The center manages the website Effective Child Therapy, which offers free high-quality learning resources for both parents and professionals about evidence-based practices that promote child and adolescent mental health.

Effective Child Therapyopens in new window

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness through more than 500 local affiliates nationwide.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIMH is the primary federal agency responsible for research on mental health. Its website offers an array of information on mental health disorders and treatments.