FREE ESSAY ON ADOLESCENCE

ADOLESCENCE

Adolescence is a stage of maturation between childhood and adulthood that denotes the
period from the beginning of puberty to maturity. However, many conflicting opinions are
raised about weather such a stage of childhood is influenced by stress, depression, and
suicide rate. Some people support the optimistic view that says that adolescence is not a
period of storm and stress. Others, including me, support an opposite pessimistic view
which characterizes adolescence as a period of stress and inner turmoil. Unfortunately,
it has been recently proved that depression is a growing problem in today's society and a
major contributing factor for a multitude of adolescent problems. This is because , as
research indicates, adolescent depression is the result of mood disorders accompanying
this period and the high suicide rate that is basically a result of such a depression. 
By analyzing depression, we will find that 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 himself. 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
underdiagnosed and leads to serious difficulties in school, work and personal adjustment
which may often continue into adulthood. However, 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. 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 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 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. Moreover, adolescents are particularly at risk for suicide attempts because
they progress through a variety of rapid developmental stages. The seriously 
depressed teen may often have a sense of hopelessness. Many teens are too immobilized by
depression to see any alternatives or to take any positive change toward change.
They don't realize that they can survive a crisis and perhaps even learn from it and , as
a result, tend to commit suicide.
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.
Bibliography
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.