Dr. Harold Koplewicz, founder and director of the New York University Child Study Center and author of More Than Moody: Recognizing and Treating Adolescent Depression, states that two-thirds of young people with major depressive disorder have coexisting mental disorders, anxiety being one of the most common. Others include post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. Because the symptoms of depression in teens sometimes differ from those experienced by depressed adults, it's essential parents be aware of the warning signs (see sidebar) and look past stereotypes. For example, previously an excellent student and "model" child, Emma's behavior began to change at age 15. Though dismayed, her parents didn't initially suspect their daughter was depressed. "I assumed she was behaving like a typical teenager, rebelling against the restrictions of childhood," says her mother, Gayle.
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