Further resources for adolescent depression

In the April 2010 issue, there is a very helpful article by Harper and Copans on "Engaging the help-rejecting depressed adolescent." It certainly provides some valuable tips on approaching adolescents in general about any chronic disease process. The area of adolescent depression is one that we community pediatricians often get involved with despite a paucity of training.

I would like to emphasize the 2-part manuscript on "Adolescent depression in primary care," the first part of which is mentioned in your bibliography (Zuckerbort RA, et al). The second part concerns "Treatment and ongoing management (e1313-1326 in the same issue). I find these publications particularly important as they were designed specifically for front-line physicians as part of the American Academy of Pediatrics Mental Health Task Force. A companion piece-the GLAD-PC toolkit ( http://www.Glad-PC.org/) -should be the centerpiece of "Further resources," as it provides evaluation tools, medication information, and handouts for adolescents and their families.

EMANUEL DOYNE, MD
PHIL LICHTENSTEIN, MD
Codirectors, Greater Cincinnati Pediatric Mental Health Task Force Cincinnati Children's Hospital