Child Essay, Research Paper

The Under Acknowledged Disease 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 underdiagnosed 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.