The researchers defined minordepression as milder than clinical depression but lasting at least two weeks and including symptoms such as feeling down, losing interest in activities, sleeping problems and poor concentration.
The reality is that for many illnesses, including not only pain but also minordepression, irritable bowel syndrome, or nausea, the placebos given to patients in clinical trials are pretty fantastic treatments that anybody would choose to take in a heartbeat.
Study leader Dr Jeffrey Johnson said more research was needed to see if depression problems in teenagers were an early phase of major depressive disorder or if minordepression earlier in life contributed to the development of more serious problems later on.