Clinical guidelines for adolescent depression: An integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine approach

doi:10.5498/wjp.117709

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World Journal of Psychiatry

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2220-3206

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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA

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Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.

World J Psychiatry. Jul 19, 2026; 16(7): 117709
Published online Jul 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.117709

Clinical guidelines for adolescent depression: An integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine approach

Yi-Fan Wang, Wei Yan, Chen Bai, Xiao-Xing Liu, Zhe Wang, Yi Zhong, Yong-Gui Yuan, Rong-Juan Guo, Lin Lu

Yi-Fan Wang, National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China

Wei Yan, Xiao-Xing Liu, Yi Zhong, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing 100191, China

Chen Bai, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, China

Zhe Wang, Department of Psychology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China

Yong-Gui Yuan, Department of Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China

Rong-Juan Guo, Department of Psychology, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, China

Lin Lu, National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing 100191, China

Co-first authors: Yi-Fan Wang and Wei Yan.

Co-corresponding authors: Rong-Juan Guo and Lin Lu.

Author contributions: Wang YF and Yan W conceived and designed the guideline framework, and drafted the initial manuscript, these authors also contributed equally to this article, and are the co-first authors of this manuscript; Wang YF and Bai C performed the literature search and evidence synthesis; Liu XX, Wang Z, Zhong Y, and Yuan YG critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content; Guo RJ and Lu L supervised the whole process, made critical revisions and contributed equally to this article, they are also the co-corresponding authors of this manuscript; and all authors prepared the draft and approved the submitted version.

Supported by the Group Standards of the China Association of Chinese Medicine, No. 20220731-BZ-CACM; the STI2030-Major Projects, No. 2021ZD0203400; the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82171477 and No. U21A20401; and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Dongfang Hospital High-Level Capacity Building Talent Project, No. DFRCZY-2024ARX-005.

Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.

Corresponding author: Lin Lu, Senior Scientist, National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), No. 51 Huayuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China. linlu@bjmu.edu.cn

Received: December 15, 2025
Revised: February 7, 2026
Accepted: March 26, 2026
Published online: July 19, 2026
Processing time: 196 Days and 9.5 Hours

Abstract

The management of adolescent depressive disorder faces significant challenges, including insufficient societal, educational, and familial attention to students’ mental health issues, as well as inadequate capacity for early detection, diagnosis, and intervention. There is an urgent need to explore effective, comprehensive solutions. Based on published evidence and panel consensus, we developed this guideline, providing recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of adolescent depression using an integrated Chinese and Western medicine approach. Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine effectively alleviates the somatic symptoms of adolescent depression and mitigates adverse drug reactions, thereby promoting restored social functioning and lowering risk of recurrence. This guideline emphasizes the importance of screening and prevention of depressive disorders in adolescents, with close monitoring and prevention of non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviors during diagnosis and treatment. In terms of treatment, priority should be given to psychotherapy and social support, while an integrated approach combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine is recommended to alleviate symptoms and reduce adverse reactions.

Keywords: Adolescent depressive disorder; Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine; Guideline; Diagnosis; Therapy

Core Tip: This guideline addresses the critical challenges of delays in identification and inadequate intervention in adolescent depression. It underscores the importance of systematic screening and crisis monitoring while advocating for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine as a core strategy to deliver safer and more comprehensive care.