Treating Depressed and Suicidal Adolescents: A Clinician's Guide

Grounded in decades of research and the clinical care of thousands of depressed and suicidal teens, this highly accessible book will enhance the skills of any therapist who works with this challenging population. The authors describe the nuts and bolts of assessing clients and crafting individualized treatment plans that combine cognitive and behavioral techniques, emotion regulation interventions, family involvement, and antidepressant medication. Illustrated with many clinical examples, each chapter includes a concise overview and key points. Reproducible treatment planning forms and client handouts can also be downloaded and printed by purchasers in a convenient full-page size.

"Brent and his colleagues have produced a superbly written book that provides state-of-the-art information about evidence-based assessment and treatment of adolescent depression and suicidality. It is infused with clinical wisdom that will fully prepare the reader for treating these challenging conditions. This exceptional book is a 'must read.'"--Matthew K. Nock, PhD, Department of Psychology, Harvard University

"If you are looking for an authoritative, well-written, and practical book about adolescent depression and suicidality, this is it. The book is written by leading experts who not only are doing research, but also are in the trenches providing help to young people and their families. This is an excellent resource for psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health clinicians."--Boris Birmaher, MD, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"A unique contribution to the clinical literature. Brent is one of the most prominent researchers in child psychiatry. He and his coauthors present an extremely readable and practical work that is rooted in research but geared toward clinicians in any setting, from the emergency department to private practice. The case examples, handouts, and descriptions of key therapy techniques are invaluable; chapters on assessing and managing suicidality provide concise yet thorough guidelines. The section on developing a safety plan is excellent, and is sufficiently detailed that clinicians will be easily able to implement the procedures."--Anthony Spirito, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University

Introduction

1. Adolescent Depression: An Overview of Assessment and Treatment

2. Assessment and Treatment of Suicidal Ideation and Behavior

3. Important Components of Effective Treatment

4. Getting Started

5. Chain Analysis and Treatment Planning

6. Behavioral Activation and Emotion Regulation

7. Cognitive Restructuring, Problem Solving, and Enhancing Interpersonal Skills

8. Treatment-Resistant Depression

9. Getting Well and Staying Well: Consolidation and Maintenance Treatment

10. Forward!