Adolescent Depression Mental Disorders example essay topic

Adolescent Depression Mental disorders represent the number one health problem for the United States and probably for the entire human population. Some studies estimate that approximately one-third of all Americans suffer from some sort of emotional disturbance. Depression will affect as many as twenty percent of all of us one time or another in our lives. Severe anxiety is even more common.

Depression has been a part of human existence since ancient times. Depression is a disease that afflicts the human psyche in such a way that the afflicted tends to act and react abnormally toward others and themselves. Therefore it comes to no surprise that adolescent depression is strongly linked to teen suicide. Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged fifteen to nineteen than cardiovascular disease or cancer (Blackman, 1995).

Despite this increased suicide rate, depression in this age group is greatly under diagnosed and leads to serious difficulties in school, work and personal adjustment that may often continue into adulthood. How prevalent are mood disorders in children and when should an adolescent with changes in mood be considered clinically depressed? Brown (1996) has said the reason why depression is often overlooked in children and adolescents is because "children are not always able to express how they feel". Sometimes the symptoms of mood disorders take on different forms in children that in adults.

Adolescence is a time of emotional turmoil, mood swings, gloomy thoughts, and heightened sensitivity. It is a time of rebellion and experimentation. Blackman (1996) observed that the "challenge is to identify depressive symptomatology which may be superimposed on the backdrop of a more transient, but expected, developmental storm". Therefore, diagnosis should not lie only in the physician's hands but be associated with parents, teachers and anyone who interacts with the patient on a daily basis.

Depression can be a transient mood change in response to many stimuli. In adolescents, depression is common because of the normal maturation process, the stress associated with it, and independence conflicts with parents. It may also be a reaction to a disturbing event such as the death of a friend or relative, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, failure at school, or for no apparent reason. Medical or psychiatric illness or medications may also cause depression. According to Yapko, normal behavior in adolescents is marked by both up and down moods, with alternating periods of feeling "the world is a great place" and "life's a bummer".

These moods may alternate over a period of hours or days. Persistent depression with no interspersed periods of happiness, faltering school performance, failing relations with family and friends, substance abuse and other negative behaviors may indicate depression. Teenagers may also mask depression with a put-on front of happiness but acting-out and risk-taking behaviors indicate the underlying problem. Unlike adult depression, symptoms of youth depression are often masked. Instead of expressing sadness, teenagers may express boredom and irritability, or may choose to engage in risky behaviors (Yapko, 1997). Mood disorders are often accompanied by other psychological problems such as anxiety, eating disorders, hyperactivity, substance abuse and suicide all of that can hide depressive symptoms.

The signs of clinical depression include marked changes in mood and associated behaviors that range from sadness, withdrawal, and decreased energy to intense feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts. Key indicators of adolescent depression include a drastic change in eating and sleeping patterns, significant loss of interest in previous activity interests (Blackman, 1995), constant boredom, disruptive behavior, peer problems, increased irritability and aggression (Brown, 1996). Blackman proposed that "formal psychological testing may be helpful in complicated presentations that do not lend themselves easily to diagnosis". For many teens, symptoms of depression are directly related to low self-esteem stemming from increased emphasis on peer popularity.

For other teens, depression arises from poor family relations that could include decreased family support and perceived rejection by parents (Shamoo et al, 1993). Yapko (1997) stated that "when parents are struggling over marital or career problems, or are ill themselves, teens may feel the tension and try to distract their parents". This "distraction" could include increased disruptive behavior, self-inflicted isolation and even verbal threats of suicide. So how can the physician determine when a patient should be diagnosed as depressed or suicidal? Brown (1996) suggested the best way to diagnose is to "screen out the vulnerable groups of children and adolescents for the risk factors of suicide and then refer them for treatment". Some of these "risk factors" include verbal signs of suicide within the last three months, prior attempts at suicide, indication of severe mood problems, or excessive alcohol and substance abuse.

Many physicians tend to think of depression as an illness of adulthood. In fact, Brown (1996) stated that "it was only in the 1980's that mood disorders in children were included in the category of diagnosed psychiatric illnesses". In actuality, seven to fourteen percent of children will experience an episode of major depression before the age of fifteen. An average of twenty to thirty percent of adult bipolar patients report having their first episode before the age of twenty.

In a sampling of one hundred thousand adolescents, two to three thousand will have mood disorders out of which eight to ten will commit suicide (Brown, 1996). Blackman (1995) remarked that the suicide rape for adolescents has increased more than two hundred percent over the last decade. Brown also added that an estimated two thousand teenagers per year commit suicide in the United States, making it the leading cause of death after accidents and homicide. Blackman stated that it is not uncommon for young people to be preoccupied with issues of mortality and to contemplate the effect their death would have on close family and friends. Once it has been determined that the adolescent has the disease of depression, what can be done about is? Blackman (1995) has suggested two main avenues to treatment: "psychotherapy and medication".

The majority of the cases of adolescent depression is mild and can be dealt with through several psychotherapy sessions with intense listening, advice and encouragement. Comorbidity is not unusual in teenagers, and possible pathology, including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, learning disability or attention deficit hyperactive disorder, should be searched for and treated, is present (Blackman, 1995). For the more severe cases of depression, especially those with constant symptoms, medication may be necessary and without pharmaceutical treatment, depressive conditions could escalate and become fatal. Brown (1196) added that regardless of the type of treatment chosen", it is important for children suffering from mood disorders to receive prompt treatment because early onset places children at a greater risk for multiple episode of depression throughout their life span". Until recently, adolescent depression has been largely ignores by health professionals but now several means of diagnosis and treatment exist. Although most teenagers can successfully climb the mountain of emotional and psychological obstacles that lie in their paths, there are some that find themselves overwhelmed and full of stress.

How can parents and friends help out these troubled teens? And what can these teens do about their constant and intense sad moods? With the help of teachers, school counselors, mental professionals, parents, and other caring adults, the severity of the teen's depression can not only be accurately evaluated, but plans can be made to improve his or her well-being and ability to fully engage life. Works sited Blackman, M. (1995, May). You asked about... adolescent depression. The Canadian Journal of CME.

Internet - available: web A. (1996, Winter). Mood Disorders in children and adolescents. NARS AD Research Newsletter. Internet - available: web Michael D. Breaking the Patterns of Depression. 1st edition. Doubleday.

New York, 1997. Shamoo, Tonia K. and Philip G. Patrol. Helping Your Child Cope with Depression and Suicidal Thoughts. Lexington Books. New York, 1993.