Depression in Chinese adolescents: prevalence, symptoms, risk factors, affected brain, diagnosis, and interventions

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has emerged as an urgent global public health concern with a pronounced impact on adolescents. Despite heightened awareness and advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, depression among Chinese adolescents remains highly prevalent. Furthermore, evidence suggests that this burden continues to increase amid China’s rapid urbanization and industrialization. Depression frequently emerges during adolescence and, if left untreated, may persist into adulthood and lead to long-term adverse outcomes. This review examines the current state of research on depression among Chinese adolescents, highlighting that precise identification of the disorder’s presence and etiology is essential for the development of effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, it explores the prevalence and risk factors associated with adolescent depression, elucidates the neural substrates implicated in the disorder, and evaluates existing diagnostic and therapeutic methodologies. Overall, this review highlights the importance of the timely recognition of risk factors and underlying mechanisms to support more effective prevention and treatment strategies in China. © 2026 Yang, Zhang and Yang.