The Mistreatment of Mood Disorders in Youth

Abstract

Mood disorders in youth, specifically depression and bipolar disorder, have been increasingly prevalent. Treatment standards for youth essentially reflect those intervention strategies used with adults; however, there are serious concerns as to the effectiveness and safety of these interventions. Moreover, with growing pressures to use “evidence-based” treatments, clinicians are compelled to critically examine the literature to determine the most effective treatment course. This article examines current treatment approaches for mood disorders in youth and scrutinizes the justification for using psychotropic medications as a “front-line” intervention.