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Essay on Adolescent Depression-2
Introduction
Statistics concerning the prevalence of depressive disorders among adolescents are rare and imprecise (Kashani et al 1987). In the United States, it is reported that between 3 and 40% of adolescents present anxio-depressive symptoms (Garrison et al 1998; Kashani et al 1987). Moreover, the severity of depressive symptoms is hard to evaluate (Garrison et al 1998). However, a predominance of girls is always noted. Present data give us a partial and inadequate picture and the literature is still not clear on the following aspects: 1) the evaluation and measurement of depression among adolescents; 2) the distinction between temporary depressive symptoms and persistent depressive syndrome; and 3) the frequency of depression in adolescence.
Until recently, health professionals have, largely ignored adolescent depression, but now several means of diagnosis and treatment exist. Although most teenagers can successfully climb the ladder of emotional and psychological obstacles that lie in their paths, there are some that find themselves overwhelmed and full of stress.
Symptoms
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. Other emotional problems make it hard to recognize depression in a child, but usually overlap with depression.
The intensity of depressive symptoms is an important factor to consider but, at the same time, is hard to measure clinically. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish normality from pathology because of the emotional turmoil experienced during adolescence. The frequent mood swings of the ‘normal’ adolescent must be distinguished from long-term depressive states. However, the literature is vague on the definition of ‘persistence’ (i.e. feelings experienced ‘most of the time’ by the adolescent) (Garrison et al 1998). Intense and persistent depressive symptomatology is not a universal phenomenon of adolescence but rather the indication of pathology................
