Treatment of Adolescent Depression: the Berriga House Project

Investigators:

A/Prof Neville King

Prof. Bruce Tonge

Mr Glenn Melvin

Ms Nicola Williams

Berriga House is a clinic within the Centre for Developmental Psychiatry that offers services for the treatment and research of depression in adolescents. The clinic provides an extensive program of assessment, therapy and follow-up to 12-16 year olds and their families.

Common signs of depression include a persistent lowering of mood or irritability for several weeks at a time, feelings of hopelessness or guilt, changes to appetite, sleep disturbances, suicidal thoughts, fatigue, concentration difficulties and an inability to enjoy favourite activities. Depression can have serious effects for young people such as problems in school performance, social relations and self-confidence. Research has also suggested a link between teenage drug/alcohol abuse, suicide and depression.

Therapy at Berriga House is provided in an individual and flexible manner according to the needs of the particular family. Examples of areas which may be a focus of therapy include education about depression, improving self-esteem, communication skills, family problem solving, relaxation techniques and learning to replace overly negative thinking patterns with the development of a more helpful and realistic style of thinking.

As well as offering a service to families, Berriga House is a research project. Little research has been conducted on the treatment of depression in adolescents. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy for adolescents suffering from depression. The study has social and scientific benefits and the findings will be of benefit to all concerned in the assessment and treatment of adolescent depression.

Further information can be obtained from Glenn Melvin (03 9594 1300).