Recognizing depression in an adolescent
Adolescence is an exciting but often stressful time in the life cycle of human growth and development. Physical changed--including hormonal--are taking place. Rapid growth, awareness of developing sexuality, increased negativism and rebelliousness are all quite common in this phase of the teenager's life. Identity formation, which includes the process of psychologically separating from the parents and peer pressure surface. The lure availability of potentially harmful and destructive things such as alcohol and drugs, teen pregnancy, and violence are ever present.
Depression during adolescence is common in varying degrees. Disappointment and frustration resulting from unmet goals, fractured relationships, and normal struggles with parental control are quite common. However, more severe and potentially very harmful depression frequently arises as a result of the adolescent being in stressful situations for extended periods of time.
These situations could be:
• Parental separation or divorce
• Family tension or violence
• Emotional abuse or neglect
• Break-up with a friend
• Academic problems
• Death of a family member or close friend
• Personal health problems or health problems of another family member
• Sexual abuse
Because teenagers are often sullen, irritable, prone to mood swings, and desire distance from their parents, depression can be difficult to differentiate from "normal" adolescent development. The following are some of the common symptoms of depression in adolescence:
• An unusual change in appetite or weight
• Loss of usual energy
• Diminished socialization and detachment from friends
• Changes in school performance, loss of usual interest in school activities, poor memory or concentration
• Somatic complaints with little or no physical basis
• Sleep disturbances including difficulties in awakening in the morning
• Aggressive behavior or agitation, being quarrelsome, showing disrespect of authority, belligerence, hostility, intense anger
• Prolonged feelings of worthlessness, consistent display of negative self-concept, preoccupation with death, suicidal thoughts or attempts, running away from home
• Expressions of sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness
• Persistent moodiness and crying spells
• Depressed mood and poor self-concept taken together for a period of a month or more are highly indicative of depressive illness
Situations and symptoms indicative of depression should be attended to by the adolescent's physician or mental health professional.
Next week I will discuss the terrible tragedy of adolescent suicide.
Copyright c 1995 Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D
