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Adolescence is an important developmental period for un- The dramatic increase in knowledge about adoles-
derstanding the nature, course, and treatment of depres- cence has had clear effects on the direction and emphasis
sion. Recent research concerned with depressive mood, of recent research. Now that depression, depressive
syndromes, and disorders during adolescence is reviewed, symptoms, and depressed mood have been recognized as
including investigations of the prevalence, course, risk appropriate subjects of investigation in adolescents, the
factors, and prevention and treatment programs for each number of studies on these topics has exploded. For ex-
of these three levels of depressive phenomena in adoles- ample, in our search of PsycLIT using the key words
cence. A broad biopsychosocial perspective on adolescent adolescent and depression for entries published from 1987
depression is recommended, and possible directions for through 1991, more than 2,000 entries were found. There
future integrative research are proposed. Based on current now is a critical mass of knowledge that lends itself to a
research and knowledge, implications for research, pro- synthesis such as the present one.
gram, and national policy are considered. The goals of this article are to provide an overview
of the primary issues in research, intervention, and policy
related to depression during adolescence. We first consider