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Adolescent Depression Essay 3

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Adolescent Depression Essay 3
Adolescent Depression

Depression is something that I really have had no experience with in my life. Personally, I might have thought about killing myself figuratively at one specific point in my life. I thought about what the consequences would be and how it would effect the people who surround me in my life. As soon as these thoughts raced through my mind, I quickly realized that suicide is the wrong way to deal with life. I know that depression plays an essential role when dealing with suicide. There are three main depressive orders: Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymia, and Bipolar Disorder. Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptom list) that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities (NIMH, 2006). This form may only occur once in a lifetime, but more commonly occurs several times. Some of the symptoms include feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, sadness, or fatigue. Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every single symptom out there. Dysthymic disorder is less severe, but more chronic form of depression. It is diagnosed when the patient has been in a depressed mood for one year and usually comes with at least two different symptoms of major depression. These symptoms do not disable its patient, but hold them back from functioning well in life 's daily activities. Dysthymia is associated with an increased risk for developing major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse (Birmaher et al, 1996). The third type is bipolar disorder, which is also called manic-depressive illness. It affects adolescents more often than it does children, but is more likely to affect the children whose parents have the disorder. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression) (NIMH, 2006).
Twenty to 40 percent of adolescents



Cited: 1. National Institute of Mental Health. "Depression". Secondary Title. Edition. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (2006, September 13). Retrieved December 11, 2006 from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm#ptdep2. 2. Emslie GJ, Rush AJ, Weinberg WA, et al. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of fluoxetine in children and adolescents with depression. Archives of General Psychiatry (1997). Retrieved December 11, 2006 from http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/ChildDepression.html 3. Birmaher B, Ryan ND, Williamson DE, et al. Childhood and adolescent depression: a review of the past 10 years. Part I. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1996). Retrieved December 11, 2006 from http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/ChildDepression.html 4. Harrington R, Rutter M, Weissman MM, et al. Psychiatric disorders in the relatives of depressed probands. I. Comparison of prepubertal, adolescent and early adult onset cases. Journal of Affective Disorders (1997). Retrieved December 11, 2006 from http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/ChildDepression.html 5. Focus Adolescent Services. (2000). Retrieved December 11, 2006 from http://www.focusas.com/index.html

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