Duration of Teen Depression
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is episodic, that is, it comes and goes with time. According to one study, the average length of a depressive episode of MDD in adolescents is seven to nine months. Studies have shown that approximately 90% of adolescents suffering from MDD remit within two years or less after onset of the initial episode. Treatment decreases both the duration of MDD episodes and the likelihood of future episodes.
Dysphoric Disorder (DD) may endure up to four years (technically, DD is not diagnosed until the teen has experienced the symptoms for a period of at least two years, but that does not mean that one should wait two years to intervene). DD predicts a higher likelihood of MDD, particularly if left untreated, indicating the importance early intervention.
