BRISBANE, July 14 AAP - One-in-four teenagers experiences at least one episode of depression before they reach the age of 18, a researcher said today. AAP News via NewsEdge Corporation : BRISBANE, July 14 AAP - One-in-four teenagers experiences at least one episode of depression before they reach the age of 18, a researcher said today. University of Queensland PhD student Gabrielle O'Shea, who is conducting an Australian-first depression treatment program for teenagers, said the ratio was consistent with other western countries. But depression overall was increasing in teenagers at a younger age than ever before. "There does seem to be a rise in the incidents of depression in teens," Ms O'Shea said. "By the time adolescents are 18-years-old, approximately 25 per cent of them will have experienced at least one episode of depression. "Individuals who have been born in the later part of the 20th century seem to be at greater risk for developing depression and it also seems to be manifesting at a younger age." Ms O'Shea said there was a number of contributing factors including relationship problems, genetics and the environment. She is using Interpersonal Therapy for Adolescents (IPT-A), which was designed to assist depressed teenagers overcome their symptoms. It was developed initially by researchers in the early 1980s in the United States and used more recently by a therapist at the Columbia University in New York. Ms O'Shea said it was the first time the therapy was used to treat depression in teens in Australia. She said finding effective psychological treatments were vital as opposed to prescribing medication. "Anti-depressant medications have relatively poor results with this group and if left untreated depression in adolescents is likely to occur," Ms O'Shea said. The University of Queensland is looking for teens to take part in 12-week treatment programs later in the year. People interested need to be 13-18 years of age and not taking any anti-depressant medication. AAP ved/sc/rsm/jlw Publication: AAP News Distributed by Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire <> << Copyright ©2003 Financial Times Limited, All Rights Reserved >> This site is best viewed with Internet Explorer 5.0