Final answer:
Depression in adolescents often presents with behavioral changes like truancy, social withdrawal, and oppositional behavior, which nurses need to identify. Treatment combines psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When caring for an adolescent diagnosed with depression, a nurse should be aware that depression can manifest differently than in adults.
The signs and symptoms of depression in adolescents often include behaviors such as truancy, a change of friends, social withdrawal, and oppositional behaviors. It is important to look beyond classic symptoms and consider changes in the social and behavioral patterns of adolescents. Effective treatments for depression typically involve a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle adjustments, such as increased exercise and light therapy.