Reports of Parents of Adolescent Children With Depression in Outpatients Treatment

Gerusa Marcondes Pimentel de Abreu Lima, Claudinei Jose Gomes Campos

Depression in adolescence has been the subject of a great deal of research interest over recent years in studies investigating use of medications, new treatments, and the negative impact on family relationships. Studies investigating family aspects have observed that parents who are the primary guardians of such adolescents also suffer from the implications of their child’s depressive disorder. The objective of this brief communication is to report feelings expressed by parents faced with depressive adolescent children in outpatients treatment. Method: The methodology applied was clinical-qualitative method. A total of 12 mothers and 2 fathers took part, all parents of adolescents with depression. Results: It was observed that the parents exhibited a degree of distress and insecurity with relation to managing and dealing with their relationship with their depressive offspring, feelings that were very much present in descriptions of their attempts to define their position. Conclusion: In exploring the parents’ feelings, it was found that the disease weakens parents because they often do not know how to act in response to their children’s depressive crises, undoubtedly