Teen Depression
Stress and modern life are far more ingrained in modern culture, often causing a greater preponderance of mental disorders in almost all population dynamics. The teen population is not eliminated as a candidate for a disorder just because they may be young. In fact, mental disorders affect 1 in 5 teenagers. The prevalence of mental disorders in this population should encourage an abundance of treatment programs, but sadly, this is not the case. Because the diagnosis of an individual's mental state is subjective in nature, many troubled teens remain untreated. Depression in the youth population is a common occurrence, yet the diagnosis and treatment seem to slip through the cracks (Ellison and Verma, 2003).

Depression is often difficult to diagnose, and the health care industry contributes to the overlooking of depression in teens because of the overwhelming desire to keep costs down, and the difficulty in getting teens to be…...

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Principal Causes of Adolescent Depression - As noted, teen depression is difficult to diagnose at times because it is so imitative of many normal adolescent reactions and behaviors. Teen suicide, typically arising from depression or depression related pathology, is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24 and the fourth leading cause of death for persons between the aged of 10 to 14. Although the suicide rate among youth significantly decreased in the mid-1990s, suicide deaths in the United States remain high in the 15-24 age range, making it the one of the highest rates globally ("Suicide -- Fact Sheet," 2008). Only accidental deaths and homicide follow it. Some experts believe that many "accidental" deaths are actually suicides coded incorrect, perhaps to spare families already in turmoil. 27% of high school students have thought about suicide, 16% had a plan, and 8% made an attempt. Suicide affects teens of all races and social standing, although males have a higher success rate (78-90%) and typically use firearms, while females tend to try poison or sleeping pills. Over the past 15 years, for instance, the suicide rate among girls has scarcely changed, while the rate among boys has tripled. Also, the rate among non-white males, even thought it is still lower than the white male rate, has been rising most quickly of all ("Youth Suicide Fact Sheet," 2008). Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among whites after accidents and the third among blacks after homicides and accidents. Teen suicide is now considered a national mental health problem, and one of the fastest growing killers of youth in America, something that must be addressed consistently and actively.

There are numerous cultural and sociological factors that seem to lead contemporary teens to become so depressed they move towards considering suicide. Certainly the cultural environment for teens has changed over the last 15 years, which would correlate with the CDC's reports tracking teen suicide as a pandemic. And, the American Psychiatric Association issued a recent report that indicated a decrease in antidepressant prescriptions to minors of just a few percentage points coincided with a 14% increase in teen suicides -- and in the Netherlands, also facing a similar pandemic, the suicide rate was up 50%, upon prescription depression medication drops. Studies run by the Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network suggest that even prenatal hazards increases the risks for teen suicide. Mothers of the potential suicides received less prenatal care and were more likely to smoke cigarettes and take alcohol during pregnancy. "Findings in [. . .] adolescent suicide and suicide attempts include abnormally low levels of serotonin metabolite 5 HIAA; reduction in presynaptic 5HT receptor density; increase in post synaptic 5HT receptor density"(Cohen, et.al., 1988). Suicide is a genetically influenced. It may be the result of an underlying personality or predisposition to mental illness that is inherited. One other cause is the imitative thinking still manifest in youth. After a film or news story on suicide is shown, suicide rates tend to go up (Symanski-Sanders, 2006).

The major causes of depression related

2007). A teenager who uses drugs or alcohol as escape mechanisms might need to cease their addictive behaviors before symptoms are relieved, because some drugs and alcohol exacerbate pre-existing depression and increase the risk of suicide (Van Voorhees 2007).
Van Voorhees (2007) also points out that some physical illnesses can create symptoms that mimic depression and so doctors should perform a litany of blood tests to make more accurate diagnoses of depression. Some physiological diseases can cause cognitive or emotional impairment. Leaping into a situation in which an adolescent is labeled as being mentally ill can have a deleterious effect: creating an even lower sense of self-esteem and a bleaker outlook on life than the teenager already has.

The medications most commonly prescribed to teenagers diagnosed with clinical depression include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSI) like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. Antidepressants are not "miracle cures" and as many as one in…...

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References

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2008). Teen suicide. Retrieved June 23, 2008 at  http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/teen_suicide 

Arkowitz, H. & Lilienfeld, S.O. (2007). Can antidepressants cause suicide? Scientific American. Retrieved Jun 23, 2008 at  http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=can-antidepressants-cause 

Blackman, M. (1995). You Asked About... Adolescent Depression. In the Canadian Journal of CME May 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2008 at  http://www.mentalhealth.com/mag1/p51-dp01.html 

Counseling Services at the State University of New York: Buffalo (2008). Suicide: What it is and what to do. Retrieved June 23, 2008 at http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/suicide.shtml

Case Study: Teen Depression Teen depression needs serious attention since it occurs at that phase of life when young adults start to explore life and its adventures. If the starting of their life is negative, then there is a negative impression on their minds for the rest of their lives. This paper explores the symptoms of teen depression and it impacts adolescents in terms of physical and mental health. As expressed in the case, the clinical manifestations of teen depression are obesity, poor physical hygiene, being socially isolated, and having suicidal thoughts. These symptoms are in line with those of adolescent depression that include suicidality, issues in proper functioning in the society, and low physical and mental health (Maughan, Collishaw & Stringaris, 2013).
According to the case, Thomas might have shown initial signs of depression due to his mother's death, moving to another place, and having problems in adjustment, especially in the…...

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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, April 21). Preventing suicide. Retrieved from  

Maughan, B., Collishaw, S. & Stringaris, A. (2013). Depression in childhood and adolescence. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 22(1), 35-40.

Mayo Clinic. (2018, November 16). Teen depression. Retrieved from  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/teen-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20350985 

Puskar, K.R., Stark, K.H., Feretman, C.I., Engberg, R.A., & Barton, R.S. (2006). School-based mental health promotion: Nursing intervention for depressive symptoms in rural adolescents. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 4(4), 13-20. DOI: 10.1901/jaba.2006.4-13

Stikkelbroek, Y., Bodden, D.H.M., Kleinjan, M., Reijnders, M. & van Baar, A.L. (2016). Adolescent depression and negative life events, the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation. PloS One, 13(1), e0192300.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161062 

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/fastfact.html 

Depression in Adolescents
Roughly nine percent of the population - an estimated 18.8 million Americans -- suffers from depressive disorders, illnesses that affect the body as well as the mind.

The effects of depression are magnified in children, who are experiencing depression in greater numbers. An estimated 8.3% of teenagers in the United States are suffering from depression, a significant leap from two decades ago. To compound the problem, researchers like Farmer (2002) found that about 70% of adolescents suffering from depression are unfortunately not receiving adequate treatment.

This paper examines the growing problem of depression among adolescents. The first part of this paper is an overview of teen depression, looking at its causes and contrasting teen depression with depression in adults. The next part then looks at the depressive symptoms among teenagers, contrasting these with the symptoms of depression in adults. In the last part, the paper examines the various approaches that…...

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Works Cited

Beardslee, William R., Tracy Gladstone, Ellen Wright and Andrew Cooper. 2003. "A family-based approach to the prevention of depressive symptoms in children at risk: evidence of parental and child change." Pediatrics. 112(2): 401-412.

Egger, Helen. 2003. "Recognizing and treating depression in young children." The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter. 19(3): 1-3.

Farmer, Terri J. 2002. "The experience of major depression: Adolescents' perspectives." Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 23(6): 567-586.

Koplewitz, Harold. 2002. More Than Moody: Recognizing and Treating Adolescent Depression. New York: Putnam.

So, although the reverse of these characteristic is not indicative of depression, their expression within the context of grief suggests the lack of clinical depression.
ith the fundamentals of depression outlined, it is reasonable to wonder why such symptoms and behaviors manifest themselves in certain people and why they do not in others. Many different researchers coming from many different scientific backgrounds -- from psychology to biochemistry -- have investigated the fundamentals of depression, and each have constructed models as to what its underlying causes are. Each of these investigations has attempted to explain the causes and symptoms of depression and has offered treatment possibilities.

The psychological models of depression have focused their attention on failed early attachment, inability to obtain desired rewards, impaired social relations, and distorted thinking." This approach to depression has yielded some valuable information regarding the disorder; yet, much of the results make it unclear as to…...

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Works Cited

Ainsworth, Patricia M.D. Understanding Depression. Jackson: University of Mississippi Press, 2000.

American Medical Association. Essential Guide to Depression. New York: Pocket Books, 1998.

Cherlin, Andrew J. "Going to Extremes: Family Structure, Children's Well-Being, and Social Science." Demography, Vol. 36, Nov. 1999. Pages 421-28.

Copeland, Mary Ellen M.S., M.A. The Depression Workbook: Second Edition. Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, 2001.

Essay Topic Examples 1. The Influence of Social Media on Adolescent Depression
This essay topic would explore the correlation between the time spent by teenagers on social platforms and the incidence of depressive symptoms among them. It would examine the nature of online interactions, cyberbullying, the pressure to conform to idealized images, and the impact of social comparison on young individuals mental health.

2. The Role of Family Dynamics in Adolescent Depression
This topic centers on how various family structures, parenting styles, and the quality of family relationships contribute to depression in adolescents. It could address issues like emotional support, attachment styles, communication patterns, and the effects of parental conflict or divorce on the psychological well-being of teenagers.

3. Biological Factors and Genetic redisposition to Depression in Adolescents
An exploration of the biological aspects of adolescent depression, this essay could discuss how genetics, brain chemistry, hormonal changes, and other physiological factors may predispose teenagers to develop…...

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Primary Sources

Thapar, Anita, et al. \"Depression in adolescence.\" The Lancet, vol. 379, no. 9820, 2012, pp. 1056-1067.

Avenevoli, Shelli, et al. \"Major Depression in the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement: Prevalence, Correlates, and Treatment.\" Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 54, no. 1, 2015, pp. 37-44.e32.

Merikangas, Kathleen Ries, et al. \"Lifetime Prevalence of Mental Disorders in U.S. Adolescents: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication–Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A).\" Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 49, no. 10, 2010, pp. 980-989.

Costello, E. Jane, et al. \"Prevalence and Development of Psychiatric Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence.\" Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 60, no. 8, 2003, pp. 837-844.

Hankin, Benjamin L. \"Adolescent Depression: Description, Causes, and Interventions.\" Epilepsy & Behavior, vol. 8, no. 1, 2006, pp. 102-114.

een Suicide
Suicidal behaviors among teenagers remain a national menace. It has been found from large scale national survey data that about 20.5% teens harbored suicide thoughts within 12 months while about 7.7% attempted suicide at least once within this period (Centers for Disease Control, 1998a), suggesting that a large number of youths stand the risks of being prone to suicide. his is most applicable for young boys. A good example is the 1995 data which showed that the number of boys that committed suicide whose ages fell between 15 and 19 were about five times more the number of girls who committed suicide (Kramer Gould, 2001)

Researches carried out on American high school students showed that the total number of teens having suicide thoughts and considering suicide as a solution to their depressions reduced significantly between 1991 and 1997, but a notable increase was recorded on students who attempted suicide during…...

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This study was guided by the primary hypotheses. (1) Feeling socially isolated as an adolescent exposes youths to psychological imbalances such as symptoms of depression, low self-esteem, and behaviors that suggest suicide thoughts. (2) Protective factors like family ties, school ties, and academic accomplishments have the tendency of increasing the relationship between social isolation and risks of psychological ill health.

School-Oriented Support and Intervention programs for Youths

According to (Cooper $Clements, 2001), their studies and reviews on extant literature have shown that social scientists and educators have adopted the high school-based preventive measures for a very long time and still use it today to fight this problem. However, studies that prove observed effectiveness of this method are rare. High school-based preventive

Teen Stress
TEEENAGAE STRESS & DEPRESSSION

An Overview of Teenage Stress and Depression: Causes and Effects

The number and rate of teenagers or adolescents that deal with clinical levels of stress and/or depression are exceedingly high. Studies have shown that self-efficacy and perceived stress can be related to depression and can come from a range of sources in the modern age. This analysis will provide an overview of stress and depression during adolescent development and consider some of the causes and consequences that these demographics will have to bear by living with this issue. This issue is important because it largely goes unnoticed in the demographic and is often believed to just be a stage in development. However, research indicates that the issue could be far more severe and cause more damage to the individuals than previously believed.

Literature Review

Depression during adolescence has been shown to be highly prevalent and associated with life stressors.…...

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Works Cited

Ghofranipour, F., Saffari, M., Mahmoudi, M., & Montazeri, A. (2013). Demographical and Psychological Determinants of Depression, Among a Sample of . International Journal of Preventitive Medicine, 1217-1223.

Hammen, C. (2009). Adolescent Depression. Current Psychological Science, 200-204.

Hollenstein, T., & Lougheed, J. (2013). Beyonde Storm and Stress. American Psychologist, 444-454.

Lau, N., & Hue, M. (2011). Preliminary outcomes of a mindfulness-based programme for Hong Kong adolescents in schools: well-being, stress and depressive symptoms. International Journal of Children's Spirtuality, 315-330.

Skylar, unfortunately, was a handful, and Gladys was already well into middle age. Gladys assumed that since Danielle had abdicated parental responsibility that Lindsey would do the same. She did not feel that she would be able to care for a second baby.
The abortion went through as scheduled, and Lindsey returned to school soon afterwards. For Lindsey, though, things didn't return to normal. The girls at school called her a baby-killer and started making threats against her. She sank into a deep depression. She had deeply wanted the baby and she thought she would have made a good mother. Lindsey was always a quiet person and not one to share her innermost thoughts, so it was a surprise and a blow to everyone when Gladys came home from work early to find Lindsey unconscious in her bedroom, with a suicide note on the dresser and an empty bottle of…...

In the case of breast augmentation, the parent must guide the minor to the right decision -- and that is usually not to have the surgery unless it is necessary for the teen's overall health. It is up to the adult to think responsibly. There are dangers to any surgery and infections are not among the least of them. Perhaps low self-esteem is a reason for counseling by a professional, but not necessarily reason to alter one's body artificially.
The ethical responsibilities of the parent in a discussion with their underage teen regarding whether or not to have her breast augmented, are even greater and more impacting than the legal issues.

The 1800 girls under the age of 18 who had their breasts augmented last year alone are under the ethical (and rational) reasoning of the parent. These are the parents who are taking out financing to do the surgery --…...

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Bibliography

Agence France-Presse Newswire Service. Germany to Ban Cosmetic Surgery for Children. Paris, 23 April 2008.

Annas, George. The rights of patients: The basic ACLU guide to patient rights. New York City: Humana Press, 1992.

Clough, Craig. "Doc Urges Caution on Teen Breast Implants." 4 April 2008. lifewhile.com. 3 August 2009 .

Duenwald, Mary. "How Young is Too Young to Have a Nose Job and Breast Implants." New York Times 28 September 2004: F5.

In addition, factors that cause stress such as divorce or death increase the likelihood that a teenager will have aggressive tendencies (Peterson and Sheldon 2006). Additionally maternal depression, substance abuse or maternal anxiety can all lead to aggressive behaviors in teenagers (Peterson and Sheldon 2006).
According to Peterson and Sheldon (2006) teenage aggression can also be linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. In fact the authors asserts that

"Persistent aggressive behavior is a common feature in many neuropsychiatric disorders and is the most common reason for referral to a child and adolescent mental health clinic [1]. Neurological features associated with aggression include low overall IQ and relative deficits in verbal learning, memory, and fluency [2]. Deficits in executive functioning and working memory are also common [3] and may be especially pronounced with co-occurring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)."

The aggressive behavior can involve lashing out at family members, friends or strangers. The behavior is…...

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Works Cited

Arseneault L, Tremblay RE, Boulerice B, (2002) Obstetrical complications and violent delinquency: testing two developmental pathways. Child Development, 73:496 -- 508.

Dodge KA, Pettit GS (2003) A biopsychosocial model of the development of chronic conduct problems in adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 39:349 -- 371.

Facts for teen Aggression. Retrieved November 26, 2009 from  http://www.herkimercounty.org/content/Departments/View/11:field=services;/content/DepartmentServices/View/68:field=documents;/content/Documents/File/123.PDF 

Feindler E.L. (2005) Adolescent Aggression and Anger Management. Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Springer U.S.

& Naugle, A. (2008). Intimate partner violence theoretical considerations: Moving towards a contextual framework. Clinical Psychology Review, 28(7), 1096-1107.
Eckhardt, C.; Jamison, T.R. & atts, K. (2002). Anger Experience and Expression Among Male Dating Violence Perpetrators During Anger Arousal. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(10), 1102-1114.

Eckhardt, C.; Samper, R. & Murphy, C. (2008). Anger disturbances among perpetrators of intimate partner violence: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of court-mandated treatment. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23(11), 1600-1617.

Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J. (2010). Controversies Involving Gender and Intimate Partner Violence: Response to Commentators. Sex Roles, 62(3-4), 221-225.

Palo Alto Medical Facilities (PAMF). (2010). Abusive Romantic Relationships. PAMF.org.

Smith, M. & Segal, J.…...

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Works Cited:

Bell, K. & Naugle, A. (2008). Intimate partner violence theoretical considerations: Moving towards a contextual framework. Clinical Psychology Review, 28(7), 1096-1107.

Eckhardt, C.; Jamison, T.R. & Watts, K. (2002). Anger Experience and Expression Among Male Dating Violence Perpetrators During Anger Arousal. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(10), 1102-1114.

Eckhardt, C.; Samper, R. & Murphy, C. (2008). Anger disturbances among perpetrators of intimate partner violence: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of court-mandated treatment. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23(11), 1600-1617.

Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J. (2010). Controversies Involving Gender and Intimate Partner Violence: Response to Commentators. Sex Roles, 62(3-4), 221-225.

In here, the teens are seeking for adventure and experiment with different ideas. During this time, the adolescent battles over his own set of values vs. The set established by parents and other adult figures. They also begin to take on more control of educational and vocational pursuits and advantages. It is during this time that adolescents' self-dependence and a sense of responsibility become apparent, along with their quest to contribute to society and find their place in it.
With the way they respond to peer pressure, social demands and other factors that lead to irresponsible actions, teens should know their consequences. Excessive drinking, smoking and drugs can cause damage to vital organs including liver, lungs, heart and pancreas. It can also cause death, not only of the person who consumed such but of a third party as well. Drinking while driving may cause an accident or worse, even death…...

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Bibliography

Robert Sherman. (2003). Teenage Behavior Problems - Parental Interventions

Retrieved April 22, 2007. At http://www.character-education.us/interventions.htm

Teenage Risk-taking: Biological and Inevitable? (2007). Retrieved April 22, 2007 from  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070412115231.htm 

Adolescence. (2007). Retrieved April 22, 2007 from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolescence

Teen Drug Abuse - Prescription or Not
Differences between nonalcoholic offspring of alcoholics (family history positive, FHP) and matched offspring of nonalcoholics (family history negative, FHN) have been identified on a variety of behavioral, cognitive, and neurological measures. Compared to FHN teens, FHP adolescents and young adults demonstrate more disturbed school careers, impulsivity, rebelliousness, and nonconformity (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2006); poorer neuropsychological performance (Worden & Slater, 2009); and significantly lower amplitude in P300 brain waves, which are believed to measure selective attention (Cicero, et al. 2005). Further, following ingestion of alcohol, sons of alcoholics report less body sway and less subjective intoxication (Grant, et al., 2005), higher levels of flushing (McBride, 2011), and decreased P300 amplitudes when performing difficult tasks (Foster, et al., 2009).

Not all individuals with a family history of alcohol dependence become alcohol and/or drug abusers, however, and genetics alone cannot account for the transmission…...

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Resources

Ajzen, I. (2010). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179-211.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2006). Youth risk behavior surveillance -- United States, 2005. MMWR 2006, 55.

Cicero, T.J., Inciardi, J.A., & Munoz, A. (2005). Trends in abuse of OxyContin and other opioid analgesics in the United States: 2002-2004. The Journal of Pain, 6, 662-672.

Drug Enforcement Administration. (2005). Prescription pain medications: Frequently asked questions and answers for health care professionals and law enforcement personnel. Journal of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy, 19(1), 71-104.

Teenage Girls Involved in Abusive Dating elationships
Aggression in teenage dating leading to physical, emotional and psychological damage is a social problem not only because of its effects on the teenagers but also because of its prevalence.

Howard and Qi Wang (2003) report figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that overall the prevalence of non-sexual courtship violence ranges from 9% to 65%, depending on the definitions and research methods used. Howard and Qi Wang's study reported "almost one in ten of the 9th- through 12th-grade females who participated in the 1999 Youth isk Behavior Survey reported being a victim of physical dating violence (i.e., had been hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose) within the past year." Further studies and figures report that about one in five of adolescent girls has experienced dating violence. Some of the physically abusive behaviors perpetrated in dating include being scratched, slapped, slammed…...

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References.

Bush, Vanessa. (2002). A thin line between love and hate: dating violence strikes one in every five teenage girls. Essence November 2002. Retrieved November 7th,2003, from www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1264/7_33/96384286/print.jhtml.

Gillies-Bradley & Wagner Tammy L. (2003). When love hurts. Briarpatch, 32(2), 18-19.

Howard, Donna E. & Qi Wang, Min. (2003). Risk profiles of adolescent girls who were victims of dating violence. Adolescence Spring 2003. Retrieved November 7th,2003, from www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m2248/149_38/103381757/print.jhtml.

James, William H., West, Carolyn, Deters, Karla Ezrre, Amigo, Eduardo. (2000). Youth dating violence. Adolescence Fall 2000. Retrieved November 7th, 2003, from www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m2248/139_35/68535843/print.jhtml