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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by taking your teen to see his or her primary care doctor or pediatrician. However, when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred directly to a psychiatrist or psychologist — mental health professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea for you and your teen to be well prepared for the appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your teen's appointment, and what to expect from the doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms your teen has had, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes your teen has experienced.
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that your teen is taking.
- Write down questions to ask your teen's doctor.
Your time with the doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions ahead of time will help you and your teen make the most of your time. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For problems related to depression, some basic questions to ask the doctor include:
- Is depression the most likely cause of my child's symptoms?
- Other than the most likely cause, what are other possible causes for my child's symptoms or condition?
- What kinds of tests will he or she need?
- What treatment is likely to work best?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- My teen has these other health conditions. How can he or she best manage them together?
- Are there any restrictions that my teen needs to follow?
- Should my teen see a psychiatrist or other mental health provider?
- Are there any possible side effects or other issues I should be aware of with the medications you're recommending for my teen?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
- Will making changes in diet, in exercise or in other areas of my teen's life help ease depression?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions at any time during your teen's appointment.
What to expect from your teen's doctor
The doctor is likely to ask your teen a number of questions. Making sure he or she is ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you or your teen wants to spend more time on. Your child's doctor may ask your teen:
- When did your family members or your friends first notice your symptoms of depression?
- How long have you felt depressed? Do you generally always feel down, or does your mood change?
- Does your mood ever swing from feeling down to feeling extremely happy and full of energy?
- Do you ever have suicidal thoughts when you're feeling down?
- How severe are your symptoms? Do they interfere with school, relationships or other day-to-day activities?
- Do you have any biological relatives — such as a parent or grandparent — with depression or another mood disorder?
- What other mental or physical health conditions do you have?
- Have you experimented with alcohol or illegal drugs?
- How much do you sleep at night? Does it change over time?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
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- Depression. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Loosen PT, et al. Mood disorders. In: Ebert MH, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Psychiatry. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3285019. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Calles JL. Depression in children and adolescents. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2007;34:243.
- Your adolescent - depressive disorders. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/publication_store/your_adolescent_depressive_disorders. Accessed June 9, 2010.
- Agerter DC, et al. Depression. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/204551127-5/0/1481/631.html?tocnode=53395845&fromURL=631.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Lyness JM. Depression: Epidemiology and pathogenesis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Hatzenbuehler ML, et al. Emotion regulation and internalizing symptoms in a longitudinal study of sexual minority and heterosexual adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2008;49:1270.
- Bennetto L, et al. Psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. In: Jacobson JL, et al. Psychiatric Secrets. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Hanley & Belfus, Inc.; 2001. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/204551127-3/0/1167/134.html?tocnode=49275992&fromURL=134.html#4-u1.0-B1-56053-418-4..50064-9--cesec11_1285. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Katon W, et al. Initial treatment of depression in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Martinez M, et al. Psychopharmacology. In: Hales RE. Textbook of Psychiatry. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=320111. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- McVoy M. Child and adolescent psychopharmacology update. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2009;32:111.
- Crawford GC, et al. Treatment of children and adolescents. In: Hales RE. Textbook of Psychiatry. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com/popup.aspx?aID=314547&print=yes_chapter. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Factsheet: Depression in teens. Mental Health America. http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/depression/depression-in-teens. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- van der Watt G, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 2008;2:37.
- Mischoulon D. Update and critique of natural remedies as antidepressant treatments. Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinics of North America. 2009;36:789.
- Wahner-Roedler D. Treating 20 common conditions. In: Bauer B. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: Time Inc.; 2010:166.
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