Teenage depression shows family ties

Children and teenagers sometimes experience bouts of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair that are diagnosed as major depression. Researchers have been unable to determine whether depressed youths display an early version of adult depression or a different mood disorder, perhaps stemming from problems such as anxiety, delinquency, and substance abuse.

There does appear to be a strong family connection, however. A new investigation has found that adult depression and the teenage version run in the same families.