FREE ESSAY ON ADOLESCENCE DEPRESSION

ADOLESCENCE DEPRESSION

Adolescent Depression: The Under Acknowledged Disease
Psychology
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 to discover that adolescent depression is strongly linked to teen suicide.
Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged 15 to 19 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 which 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 over looked 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 than 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 lay only in the physician's hands but be associated with parents, teachers and
anyone who interacts with the patient on a daily basis. 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 (Oster &
Montgomery, 1996). Mood disorders are often accompanied by other psychological problems
such as anxiety (Oster & Montgomery, 1996), eating disorders (Lasko et al., 1996),
hyperactivity (Blackman, 1995), substance abuse (Blackman, 1995; Brown, 1996; Lasko et
al., 1996) and suicide (Blackman, 1995; Brown, 1996; Lasko et al., 1996; Oster &
Montgomery, 1996) all of which 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. Depression is often described as an exaggeration of
the duration and intensity of normal mood changes (Brown 1996). Key indicators of
adolescent depression include a drastic change in eating and sleeping patterns,
significant loss of interest in previous activity interests (Blackman, 1995; Oster &
Montgomery, 1996), constant boredom (Blackman, 1995), disruptive behavior, peer problems,
increased irritability and aggression (Brown, 1996). Blackman (1995) proposed that formal
psychologic 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 which could include decreased family
support and perceived rejection by parents (Lasko et al., 1996). Oster & Montgomery
(1996) 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, 7-14% of
children will experience an episode of major depression before the age of 15. An average
of 20-30% of adult bipolar patients report having their first episode before the age of
20. In a sampling of 100,000 adolescents, two to three thousand will have mood disorders
out of which 8-10 will commit suicide (Brown, 1996). Blackman (1995) remarked that the
suicide rate for adolescents has increased more than 200% over the last decade. Brown
(1996) added that an estimated 2,000 teenagers per year commit suicide in the United
States, making it the leading cause of death after accidents and homicide. Blackman
(1995) 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 it? Blackman (1995) has suggested two main avenues to treatment:
psychotherapy and medication. The majority of the cases of adolescent depression are 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, if 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 (1996) 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 episodes of depression throughout their life span.
Until recently, adolescent depression has been largely ignored 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 who 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 health professionals, parents, and other caring adults, the severity of a 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.
References
Blackman, M. (1995, May). You asked about... adolescent depression. The Canadian Journal
of CME [Internet]. Available HTTP: http://www.mentalhealth.com/mag1/p51-dp01.html.
Brown, A. (1996, Winter). Mood disorders in children and adolescents. NARSAD Research
Newsletter [Internet]. Available HTTP:
http://www.mhsource.com/advocacy/narsad/childmood.html.
Lasko, D.S., et al. (1996). Adolescent depressed mood and parental unhappiness.
Adolescence, 31 (121), 49-57.
Oster, G. D., & Montgomery, S. S. (1996). Moody or depressed: The masks of teenage
depression. Self Help & Psychology [Internet]. Available HTTP:
http://www.cybertowers.com/selfhelp/articles/cf/moodepre.html.