A recently conducted study has found that nearly half of the children treated for depression end up relapsing within a period of five years. Apart from that, girls were more likely to be the ones at the risk of relapsing, in comparison to boys.

The Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, Keith Young, while discussing about the findings of the study also stated that the discovery did not surprise him, as it was obvious that many people treated for depression were likely to reach the same mental state, with the passage of time. He further stated that the findings of the research showed that psychiatry doctors needed to improve their methods of treating patients.

Young also informed that the study proved that short-term treatments were not as successful in treating people suffering from depression. He felt it was better to keep treating teenagers, until they don't show any symptoms of the condition.

The study was led by Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, John Curry and was published in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry. Curry, while talking about his study stated that the study proved that psychiatry doctors were required to develop more potent treatments, which would decrease the chances of a relapse.