Author(s)

Weitao Ye, Xinguang Zhang

Department of Paediatrics, Shanghai Hospital of TCM, Shanghai, China.

This study seeks to investigate the correlation between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitutional theory and the early diagnosis and individualized treatment of adolescent depression, highlighting how constitution-based identification can enhance the clinical management of depression. A literature review methodology was utilized, integrating contemporary medical and Traditional Chinese Medicine theories to examine the etiology of adolescent depression and its association with TCM constitutions. The research examines the correlation between qi stagnation, yang deficiency, and phlegm-dampness constitutions and depression, outlining treatment methods for various constitutions derived from clinical practice. The findings demonstrate that 1) Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitutions characterized by qi stagnation, yang deficiency, and phlegm-dampness are significantly associated with the onset of adolescent depression; 2) Patients with adolescent depression exhibit varying clinical presentations contingent upon their constitution, with qi stagnation more frequently observed in males and yang deficiency in females; 3) Integrated TCM interventions, including Chaihu Shugan Decoction and Gui Fu Di Huang Wan, effectively mitigate depressive symptoms in adolescents. This study indicates that TCM constitutional theory offers an innovative method for the individualized treatment of adolescent depression. Integrating traditional Chinese medicine with contemporary medical practices can substantially improve therapy success, providing both theoretical and clinical direction for future therapies in teenage depression.

Adolescent Depression, Constitutional Theory, TCM Treatment Protocols

Ye, W. and Zhang, X. (2025) An Overview of the Treatment of Adolescent Depressive Disorders from the Viewpoint of Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 13, 422-431. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2025.135032.